UFC's Bryce Mitchell issues statement apologizing if he 'sounded insensitive' with pro-Hitler comments
UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell issued a public apology — of sorts — two days after drawing widespread condemnation for his unprovoked comments in support of Adolf Hitler.
In an Instagram post on Saturday, Mitchell wrote that he was sorry if he "sounded insensitive" with his remarks and acknowledged that "a lot of people died in the Holocaust" and "Hitler did a lot of evil things." Mitchell's full statement can be read below.
"I'm sorry I sounded insensitive. I definitely was not trying to offend anybody, but I know I did. I know that a lot of people died in the Holocaust, and that's a fact. Hitler did a lot of evil things, I think we can all agree on that. I'm definitely not a nazi, and definitely do not condone any of the evil things Hitler did."
Mitchell further added on his post:
"in the future i will b much more considerate wen talkin about the suffering of all peoples."
Mitchell made his pro-Hitler remarks on the debut episode of his podcast this past week.
“I honestly think that Hitler was a good guy, based upon my own research, not my public education indoctrination," Mitchell told his co-host, fellow UFC veteran Rolando Delgado.
"He fought for his country. He wanted to purify it by kicking the greedy Jews out that were destroying his country and turning them all into gays.”
The UFC featherweight also proclaimed that there was “no possible way they could’ve burned and cremated 6 million bodies,” and therefore “the Holocaust ain’t real.”
Mitchell's comments were immediately denounced by UFC CEO Dana White, who stated that UFC officials reached out to Mitchell and expressed that they were "beyond disgusted."
"I've heard a lot of dumb, ignorant s*** in my day, but this one's probably the worst," White said.
"Hitler is one of the most disgusting and evil human beings to ever walk the face of the earth," he continued. "And anyone who even tries to take an opposing position is a moron. That's the problem with the internet and social media — you provide a platform for a lot of dumb, ignorant people."
Despite his condemnation, White made it clear that Mitchell will not be punished by the promotion for his pro-Hitler broadcast, citing "free speech" as a reason. White stated that anyone unhappy with Mitchell could watch a future fight in hopes of seeing him potentially “get his ass whooped on global television.”
Mitchell has been on the UFC roster since 2018 and last competed in December, knocking out Kron Gracie in the third round. His next fight has not yet been scheduled.
As Uncrowned's Ariel Helwani noted in the aftermath of Mitchell's initial remarks, both Mitchell's comments and White's inaction are part of a larger pattern in modern day MMA. Just one day after Mitchell's comments widely circulated, UFC star Conor McGregor used multiple racial slurs in an unhinged tirade against former rival Khabib Nurmagomedov and also voiced words of support to Mitchell.
