In today’s world, even when it comes to a brutal sport like mixed martial arts (MMA), you have to watch what you say. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight king Conor McGregor found that out the hard way when “Notorious” was caught on camera last month using the word “f*ggot” to console teammate Artem Lobov after a loss.
Since then, McGregor has caught deserved flack from around the MMA community, forcing him to issue an official apology. While the UFC megastar most likely didn’t mean anything by his comments, especially since he’s shown support for the LGBT movement in the past, McGregor isn’t getting off so easily.
In a recent interview with TMZ Sports (shown above), UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley had a ton to say about McGregor’s comments and misuse of his stardom.
“I’m fired up over Conor McGregor. He was using homophobic slurs,” Woodley said. “How many passes do we give this dude?”
“That’s like the person that dropped the N-bomb and said ‘I’m not racist, I got three black friends and I had them over for dinner last night,’” Woodley continued. “They gave him a pass during the Floyd Mayweather fight. He was talking using the term ‘boy’ and ‘monkey,’ things that have had very negative racial undertones in the past, but I got a problem with this. When you’re a celebrity of that stature, you’re making that kind of money, you need to have a public relations person on staff and you need to have a bit more of a social conscience when you’re saying things. You know the camera is going to be on you at all times. He don’t get a pass on this one from me.
“I would never hate on the things he did for the sport and therefore himself. But that said, with much given, much is required. You do not get a pass from me, brother. He needs to sit down and be humble.”
While Woodley and McGregor have had their issues in the past, that’s not the reason why “Chosen One” is taking such a hard stance on this subject. The fact of the matter is that no fighter employed by UFC should ever utter any homophobic slurs at any point in time, let alone someone in the position of McGregor, and on camera to boot.
Woodley most certainly isn’t the only fighter who feels this way, he’s just one of the more outspoken names on the roster who is capable of stirring the pot. While McGregor has already shown remorse for his remarks he’s probably going to feel worse as more feedback from the MMA community rolls in.
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