Alexis Ohanian Responds to Backlash Over Michelle Obama Comments

WHO:

Sportskeeda - Alexis Ohanian, husband of Serena Williams

Pro Football Network - Josh Hokit, UFC star

Sportskeeda - President Donald Trump

WHAT:

Fast Company - UFC fighter Josh Hokit made a controversial remark about Michelle Obama after winning a fight, stating, "And lastly, Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?" The remarks were mostly met by boos and cheers.

Fast Company - UFC president Dana White condemned Hokit’s comments, stating, "[The] Obama’s are public figures but I’m completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families."

Fast Company - Alexis Ohanian stated on X, "Lot of people asking me to comment: Yes, that fighter's slur about former First Lady Michelle Obama was vile and inappropriate."

Fast Company - Ohanian added, "For context: I resigned in protest from Reddit (the company I co-founded and built for over a decade) specifically to push it to curb communities for hate and violence on the site."

Fast Company - Former NFL star Robert Griffin criticized Hokit, stating, "What a disgrace... It takes a really small man to use his biggest moment to attack a woman by calling her a man. Especially with the history behind calling black women men."

Fast Company - UFC fighter Josh Hokit made a controversial remark about Michelle Obama after winning a fight, stating, "And lastly, Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?"

Fast Company - UFC president Dana White condemned Hokit’s comments, stating, "Everyone knows my position on free speech but I hate that kind of nonsense."

Fast Company - Hokit won a high-profile UFC bout on the White House South Lawn, celebrating President Donald Trump's 80th birthday as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

Alternet - Michelle Obama delivered a speech at the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center, where she praised her husband and criticized Trump without naming him, stating, "I know it hasn't always been easy, but there hasn't been a single second through this experience that standing by your side hasn't left me in awe."

Alternet - In her speech, Michelle Obama highlighted her husband's achievements, including "rescuing our economy, expanding health care, ending a war, ordering the [Osama] Bin Laden raid, saving an auto industry, winning a Nobel Peace Prize, and keeping us safe from Ebola."

Sportskeeda - Alexis Ohanian attended the UFC Freedom 250, a mixed martial arts event.

Pro Football Network - Ohanian denounced Josh Hokit's comments about Michelle Obama as "vile" and "inappropriate."

Sportskeeda - Ohanian was criticized for his attendance at the event during Hokit's remarks.

WHERE:

Sportskeeda - The event took place on the South Lawn of the White House.

WHY:

Pro Football Network - Ohanian faced backlash for being present at an event where derogatory comments about Michelle Obama were made.

HOW:

Fast Company - Hokit, who is no stranger to controversy, made the same comments about the first lady after beating Eric Lunsford in a May 2025 fight.

Fast Company - Alexis Ohanian clarified that he attended the UFC event via invitation from TKO/IMG leadership and was already on his way home when Hokit made the comments.

Sportskeeda - Ohanian responded to the backlash by clarifying his stance on the comments made by Hokit.

UFC fighter Josh Hokit sparked controversy after winning a fight, making a remark about Michelle Obama that drew both boos and cheers from the crowd. UFC president Dana White condemned Hokit’s comments, emphasizing that while the Obamas are public figures, he opposes making nasty and false statements about people's families. Alexis Ohanian and former NFL star Robert Griffin also criticized Hokit, with Ohanian calling the slur vile and Griffin labeling it a disgraceful attack on a woman, particularly given the historical context surrounding such comments about Black women.