Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams‘ husband, is facing intense public backlash after defending his presence at the recent White House UFC event, where a combatant directed an insult at a former First Lady.
The prominent investor attempted to clarify his reasons for being at the sports arena by highlighting his corporate connections and previous social activism.
However, his explanation failed to satisfy critics, who immediately condemned his choices and expressed concern for his household, given the racist undertones of the event.
Ohanian posted a message on X, explaining that while he considered the fighter’s remark about Michelle Obama to be completely offensive, he only attended the sports event because he received an official invitation from high-level corporate executives.
“Lot of people asking me to comment: Yes, that fighter’s slur about former First Lady Michelle Obama was vile and inappropriate,” he wrote. “I was already on my way home when those comments were made and was glad to see Dana condemn them.”
Despite his explanation, social media users fiercely attacked his decision to participate in the event, with one individual stating, “Have you ever heard the word No. It’s a complete sentence… shame on you for so many reasons. But I feel bad for your wife and child.”
Eager commentators expressed deep disappointment, with another user declaring, “as a White man married to a Black woman and the father of two Black girls, your a-s shouldn’t have attended that klan fest PERIOD.”
Another comment read, “You could have declined that invite, despite your relation to the sports world. Not a great look.”
Many concluded that the hostile environment directly reflected a deep disrespect for his own loved ones, destroying their previous positive perception of him.
The public outrage directed at Ohanian directly follows a broader wave of national criticism aimed at the sports event’s host.
The mixed martial arts tournament, officially dubbed the “UFC Freedom 250,” took place on the South Lawn of the White House as part of a joint celebration for a major national milestone and Trump’s 80th birthday.
The main source of tension occurred during a post-fight victory interview, when Josh Hokit, who secured a win over his opponent, referred to the former First Lady as a man, as reported by The Blast.
Rather than displaying immediate disapproval, Trump “appeared to show a half-smile” immediately following the fighter’s unexpected comment. This reaction provoked massive public indignation from people who slammed the president for “normalizing hate.”
Donald Trump Previously Endorsed Digital Attacks On The Former First Lady
Trump’s reaction at the tournament aligns with a documented pattern of public hostility directed at the former presidential family.
Months before the sports event, he utilized his personal social media network to endorse highly controversial statements targeting the Obamas, written by media personality Laura Loomer.
Loomer’s statements heavily criticized former national security adviser Susan Rice and the former first family, per The Blast.
The message Trump endorsed explicitly warned the public that Netflix would broadcast biased messaging from the former president and his spouse, whom the post openly labeled an “anti-white racist” woman.
Alexis Ohanian Pushed Back Against Bleaching Allegations Targeted At Serena Williams
While Ohanian was bashed for his presence at the UFC event, he has been praised for standing up for his wife, Williams.
Earlier this year, the legendary tennis star was accused of intentionally altering her skin tone after she shared pictures of herself and her family.
The Blast reported that Ohanian quickly defended her, writing, “Where are all the comments from idiots who don’t understand how photography lighting works?”
When an online user argued that his defense was merely an attempt to dismiss legitimate observations, the businessman immediately clapped back, stating, “Or: photos from the same event can look different based on lighting.”
Serena Williams Recently Made An Epic Comeback To Competitive Play
Ohanian’s unwavering support for his wife was similarly on display as he was present to watch her iconic comeback to tennis. After Williams’ lengthy four-year absence from competitive sports, she made her highly anticipated return to the court at the prestigious Queen’s Club Championship in London.
The major international tournament quickly turned into a celebratory family gathering as Ohanian sat alongside their two young daughters, Olympia and Adira, to proudly cheer Williams on from the stands.
Williams teamed up with Victoria Mboko, and together, the duo secured a dominant straight-sets victory against their opponents, per The Blast.
