A UFC fighter used his post-fight interview at a White House event to repeat a long-debunked conspiracy theory about former First Lady Michelle Obama, sparking immediate backlash from public figures and social media users. Josh Barnett made the comment after his win at the UFC event hosted at the White House, using his live microphone moment to declare that Michelle Obama is a man. The remark drew criticism from comedian D. L.
Hughley and actor Jamie Foxx, both of whom responded publicly to the incident. Hughley reshared a clip of Barnett’s comments with the caption “This what we doing,” and later posted additional criticism of the event and its attendees. He stated on Threads that only two types of people attended the White House UFC event: racists and those comfortable sitting next to racists. Hughley also pointed out that comedian Shane Gillis, who hosted the recent Netflix roast of Kevin Hart, was present at the White House event.
Foxx took a different approach, posting photos of Michelle Obama on his platform with a caption calling her beautiful and accomplished, refusing to engage directly with the insult. The incident occurred days before the Obama Presidential Center is scheduled to open, a timing that many commentators noted. The Obamas have been out of the White House for nearly a decade, yet conspiracy theories about Michelle Obama’s gender have persisted in certain online spaces for over ten years. Barnett’s comment was broadcast live on television from the White House grounds, where the event featured fighters walking through the Oval Office and an octagon set up on the property.
President Donald Trump was in attendance at the event. The backlash focused not only on Barnett’s statement but also on the crowd’s reaction and the broader environment that allowed such a comment to be made comfortably on a national platform. Critics described the incident as reflective of ongoing racial hostility directed at the Obama family. Commentators noted that Michelle Obama has no connection to the sport of fighting, never having competed or participated in mixed martial arts in any capacity.
The attack was described as targeting a Black woman who had no involvement in the event or the sport. Some social media users expressed exhaustion with the continued targeting of the Obama family, pointing to a pattern of attacks that have continued long after Barack Obama left office. Others suggested the level of fixation on the family went beyond normal political disagreement. The Obama Presidential Center is scheduled to open on Friday, adding what many saw as significant context to the timing of the remark.
The center is intended to preserve the legacy of Barack Obama’s presidency and the family’s time in the White House.
