UFC star yells ‘Michelle Obama is a man’ at Donald Trump’s White House event
Yahoo Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- UFC fighter Josh Hokit sparked controversy after his victory over Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250 on the White House lawn by promoting a debunked conspiracy theory that Michelle Obama is transgender.
- Hokit shouted "Michelle Obama is a man" during his post-match interview, a claim with no factual basis but one that has circulated for over a decade among right-wing commentators.
- The conspiracy theory originated around 2008 and gained traction in 2014, despite repeated debunking by fact-checkers such as Snopes, PolitiFact, and Reuters.
- Experts suggest the persistence of this false claim is driven by underlying motives of spite, sexism, and racism, making it resistant to fact-based corrections.
- Hokit's public endorsement of the theory at a widely viewed event significantly amplified the conspiracy, drawing widespread criticism and attention.
