Dana White, head of UFC, continues his campaign for Outsports’ ignominious end-of-year award with comments comparing the reaction to his defense of Sean Strickland’s homophobia in 2024, to being gay in the 1980s.
He joined Shannon Sharpe on the NFL Legend’s Shay Shay Podcast to talk about a number of issues, including the Tom Brady roast and the upcoming Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul fight.
At some point, Sharpe asked White about being “canceled” (which, to be very clear, White has not been).
That’s when White started a completely ridiculous but typical ego-mania pity party.
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“I equate it to being gay,” White said of his being “canceled,” according to Complex. “Think about this, back in the ’80s if you came out and said you were gay it could destroy your career. Imagine living a life where you can’t be who you really are, it’s got to be a horrible thing, right? F**k that, I am who I am, if you like it or you don’t like it, I don’t give a f**k. That’s your problem, not mine.”
Actually, there is no comparison to being gay in the 1980s and facing online criticism today.
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In the 1980s, many states criminalized being gay. It wasn’t until 2003 that homosexuality, by decision of the United States Supreme Court, became legal across the country.
In the 1980s, gay men were dying from a disease as many in the country cheered their death.
In the 1980s, many people — including some politicians — proposed arresting every gay American and putting them on an island against their will (though, of course, in 10 years that island would have been the most sought-after destination in the world).
Plus, White’s idiot opinions and his decision to espouse them isn’t anything like the inherent nature of being gay.
So no, facing criticism today for opinions straight out of the 1980s is absolutely nothing like being gay in the 1980s.
Of course, as he said, White doesn’t give a f**k about the gay community. He’s made that super apparent as he publicly embraces people like Sean Strickland, who say horrific things about gay people.
Yet comparing some people online yelling at him to the life-threatening plight of gay Americans in the 1980s might be a new low. And while he thinks “not caring” about the gay community is a good thing, given the continued struggles of many gay people in America, particularly in certain pockets, it’s just crappy.
