UFC President Dana White Apologizes 'For Anybody I Offended or Hurt'

UFC President Dana White opens his latest YouTube video with an apology for the anti-gay slur he used in the video he posted Wednesday.

The UFC frequently posts YouTube videos that show White going about his job, and every UFC fan knows that profanity is the norm from White. But the rant on Wednesday was well outside the norm. White used the video to curse out Loretta Hunt, a writer for Sherdog.com, for this article, in which Hunt cites anonymous sources criticizing White and the UFC. White also described Hunt's anonymous sources with an anti-gay term. The UFC later removed the video from YouTube.

Now White says, "I apologize for anybody that I've offended or hurt." He apparently does not, however, think he owes an apology specifically to Hunt. He didn't mention Hunt by name in the new video, but he did say, "I would never, ever maliciously attack somebody who wasn't attacking me."

Hunt told the Associated Press, "I stand by the story, it's accurate. His reaction, I think it's more of a distraction from the actual story about the UFC and the managers and what's going on with them. Me, personally, I don't want to get involved in this. I'm a journalist, and journalists, sometimes you do stories that people don't like."

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

4-03-2009 @ 9:19AM

mike said...

It's good that he apologized, but the apology should have gone a little beyond what he offered. Homophobic slurs have no place in public discourse.

4-03-2009 @ 10:30AM

richardbikle said...

I guess if Dana holds himself to the same standards he reserves for others, then all those colorful comments would apply to him equally for hiding what he has/had to say; I find a lot of equivalence in pulling your video and the anonymous statements he was ranting on. Hypocrisy must be a gift with him.
I find it interesting out of this entire industry he calls out a woman.

4-03-2009 @ 11:07AM

Eric said...

OMG, who cares ...

People who have nothing better to do with their time - than take offense to slurs ... need to get a life.

What ever happened to "Sticks n Stones ..."

4-03-2009 @ 12:00PM

ammiezon said...

MMA is a totally Homosexually orientated activity. It's clearly nothing more then a playground for gays. To all you MMA toughies Heeeeeey and you go Gladiators.

4-03-2009 @ 12:01PM

earsstinks said...

Im sorry cupcakes ! lol

4-03-2009 @ 12:43PM

vinnyroof said...

If Dana White is so tough why doesn't he get in the octegon and put his muscle where his mouth is.

4-03-2009 @ 2:08PM

vabc06 said...

First of all spell "octEgon" correctly. Second, Dana was an amateur boxer and was even approved by NSAC to have a live sparring match with Tito Ortiz. For those of you that think MMA is gay, well then you step into the octAgon and face a fighter.

4-03-2009 @ 1:30PM

brdbrns3 said...

you guys can take a d*ck, but you can't take a joke. Who gives a crap. Gayness attacks straight america. Everywhere you go, its a gay agenda. Have you seen the gay Quizno's ad where the oven (in a male voice) says "stick it in me" "you know you like it." ridiculous.

4-03-2009 @ 2:12PM

True, seems like with shows like Will and Grace and Queer Eye, etc... if you are not gay, its not cool? OH but say fag, and you are a POS. I hate it when they (homosexuals) speak with a fake feminine voice and are trying not to sound like a man, wtf? I don't care if you are homosexual, but speak your natural voice at least, you will still be gay either way..

4-03-2009 @ 2:35PM

G said...

Michael,

Would you do me a favor and answer two questions that no one - NO ONE - has even thought to consider in this mess?

First, does White have a legitimate gripe? Hunt's "article" specifically cites two management firms complaining about events in Vegas, London, Ohio, Tampa, and Texas - but then she says she talked to the CA, NJ and TN governing bodies. Is that not a disconnect to anyone? She didn't even talk to Nevada's governing body. In writing a story about the UFC, which is headquartered and has done so many events in Vegas, how do you excuse not talking to Nevada's governing body? Finally, the sourced quotes given at the end reflect exactly the position taken by White in the pulled video - that fighters get three credentials and use them on people that need to be back there (cornermen/coaches/training partners). She says she emailed UFC and asked them about it; that's not enough to make these accusations - if she wants to be treated like a journalist, with the respect a journalist gets, she has to do the legwork of a journalist and NOT PUBLISH until she's got those facts.

Second, Hunt's "article" cites only anonymous sources in support of her thesis regarding credentialing and does so without justifying their anonymity or giving readers reason to believe those sources are unbiased. How is that remotely kosher? Right now, everyone - YOU included - is giving Hunt a free pass on a horrendous, pathetic excuse for journalism.

The AP did nothing more than ask Hunt if she stood by her story. Neither the AP nor you actually went and looked to see who's right. If you claim to be much of an MMA fan, then you, MDS, owe us that much.

4-03-2009 @ 4:16PM

Matthew Moses said...

Right on, G. This entire story has simply been played up to draw attention to Sherdog and Hunt's amateurish reporting.

4-03-2009 @ 5:19PM

papam11 said...

Dana White is a Boston area PUNK.

4-03-2009 @ 5:45PM

yvonne01 said...

He should also apologize for calling her a b****. She never stated anything bad about him other then managers who CAME TO HER in confidence about what he is trying to do/already starting to do which is separating them from the fighter so he can gain total control. The reality is the rumor is true why he freaked out the way he did, he will be putting a lot of managers as well other mma sponsors other then tapout out of business and he doesn't care at all and will coninue on with his fake, greedy smile.

4-03-2009 @ 5:55PM

She's a journalist. No journalist with any integrity uses anonymous sources like Hunt did. Keeping their confidence is fine if you're a friend, not if you're a reporter.

And the reality is not that "the rumor is true" because Hunt hasn't remotely proven that to be the case. White justifiably freaked out (but used unjustifiable language) because Hunt published an irresponsible hatchet job.

That Sherdog continues to stand behind this ridiculous excuse for journalism proves that Sherdog doesn't deserve the credentials Josh Gross and other complain that UFC denies Sherdog at UFC events. If Sherdog were a reputable source of journalism, it never would have published Hunt's "article" in that form.

Calling Hunt a b*tch was wrong - he should've left it at moron, and that would've been fine.

4-03-2009 @ 6:34PM

jeromyjer said...

What the hell ever happened to freedom of speech, expression and evry other right given to me by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? Our forefathers fought to create it, I fought(and gained a disability in doing so)for uphold it. Do I really have to modify MY opinions and MY thoughts and MY beliefs to accomodate evryone? It seems to me the rights I fought for and many others fought and died for DO NOT apply to the mainstream. Im supposed to put everyone elses feelings ahead of what I believe, no matter what? Pound sand. Grow up and grow a set, not everyones going to like you, your hair color, your orientation or what youve got to say. Thats what USED to make this country great. Im almost to the point of saying Im embarassed to be a U.S. citizen, not because of my country(remember, I voluntarily went to war for it) but because of some of the ultra sensitive, self minded citizens I protected. Thanks, fellow Americans. We dont need bail-outs, we need a big tube of Vagisil!

4-03-2009 @ 7:03PM

Jimmyp355 said...

I agree Dana White is quite offensive...The other day on the TV he said, and I quote "welcome to the UFC Motherf**kers". I, as a devout mother f'er, am very disappointed in his comments. As the president of MFVS I am very angry that he would just slander our right to be MF'ers. It is very difficult to be a MF'er in today's society and Dana Should be sensitive to our plight. Its hard enough just trying to get through the day, for example just yesterday I cut this guy off in traffic and of course I get reminded of my infliction of being a mother f**ker by some man I never met screaming it at me for everyone to hear. Sorry Mr, Gasoline tanker driver, but your words hit harder than fists. So in closing, Mr.White please consider the people whom you harm with your calous words and choose them better so we can unbunch our panties and quit being a nation of pussy's. Oh yeah, can my group the MFVS (Mother F**kers Victim Society have some money? No!!! why you lousy Mother f**ker...Too bad freedom is speech isnt free when you have money.

4-03-2009 @ 8:05PM

John Marshall said...

This guy has shown his true colors in the past and will do so again in the future.

4-03-2009 @ 9:15PM

To G,
Would you care to disclose your relationship with Dana/UFC? Are you part of the legal team or with Public Relations?
By the way thats some rather rich journalism you pen, "No journalist with any integrity uses anonymous sources"; while I tend to agree with a complete lack of integrity in the press, the use of anonymous is the least of their offences.

4-04-2009 @ 2:16AM

I don't work for UFC, Zuffa or Dana White. I am not part of any legal, public relations, or other "team" hired by UFC, Zuffa or Dana White. Why would you ask if I was? I'm not carrying their water, and if you asked about other issues (Fitch's licensing dispute, for example), I wouldn't be defending UFC/Zuffa/White like this.

Nor did I say "No journalist with any integrity uses anonymous sources." If you'd quoted me fully, you would have seen what I did say - "No journalist with any integrity uses anonymous sources LIKE HUNT DID." (emphasis added) Even if it is, as you assume, a "lesser offence," it's still an offense that should be noted and addressed by anyone who writes on this issue who deigns to call themselves "journalist."

More importantly, neither you nor anyone else is addressing the fundamental point - is Hunt correct in her factual assertions that (a) UFC changed its credentialing policy and (b) did so in an effort to put pressure on certain managers/agents? No one's addressed this, even after some random internet commenter pointed out the complete clusterf*ck of logic she uses. She cites two anonymous manager/agent firms' complaints about five events, but does not talk to the credentialing authorities from those events' sites. Instead, she talks to two states that haven't hosted a UFC event since 2007 and one that just hosted one (but at which no one complained about any credentialing issues, according to her). Nor does Hunt talk to Nevada. This is the UFC we're talking about - headquartered in Nevada and holding a huge number of events in Nevada. You can't call yourself a journalist without talking to Nevada on this issue. She didn't.

If Sherdog insists on standing behind that pathetic piece of "journalism," they prove only one thing - that White is correct when he denies Sherdog press credentials for UFC events. He's correct because, by standing behind this crap, Sherdog proves it's not a journalism site, and its members don't deserve to be treated like journalists.

If Hunt insists on "standing behind her piece," then she's a poor excuse for a journalist. So is anyone and everyone who writes on this subject defending her WITHOUT first answering the questions I raised - is she right, and was her anonymous source use justified? All the evidence right now points to no on both, which means that White's criticism is completely justified, even if his language wasn't.

4-03-2009 @ 9:51PM

dajohnguy said...

the man is a stand up person THIS VIDEO IS A PRIME EXAMPLE watch how he treats EVERYBODY with respect- it SEEMS ALL U GAY PPL R ASHAMED OF YOURSELF FOR BEING GAY ALL U TAKE WHO AND WHAT YOU ARE OFFENSIVE WHEN SOMEONE ELSE SAYS IT - NO THAT RIGHT THERE=YOU TOUCHY HYPROCRITCAL PPL R THE OFFENSIVE ONES TO US TRUE GOOD HEARTED ONE LOVE ONE PPL AMERICANS u fags shouldnt be so damn touchy sounding liek a bucnh of pansies THIS IS AMERICA HOME OF THE BRAVE hey if u can take a d*ck u can DAMN SURE take a joke SO EASE UP AND GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE AND NOT THE WORST & IF U SODOMITES C NO REASON FOR GIVING THANKS THE FAULT LIES ONLY IN YOURSELF-

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