Josh Hokit has invited the anger of yet another critic as a result of his highly controversial remark at the UFC Freedom 250. And this time, it’s from someone who is considered a veteran in a sport the UFC heavyweight contender couldn’t make it in. As most people know by now, ‘The Incredible Hok,’ in an appropriate tirade after his knockout win over Derrick Lewis, called former First Lady Michelle Obama a man. So, as expected, condemnation arrived in droves, and almost everyone who saw it firsthand or heard it later blasted the UFC fighter for his unkind and out-of-place remark. And now, joining the chorus, NFL legend Cam Newton has decided to speak out on Hokit’s comment.
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“In our culture, we don’t play about certain individuals. Certain people are untouchable,” Newton said on his 4th & 1 podcast. “If you utter anything disrespectful about an Obama, it doesn’t matter if it’s the daughters, it doesn’t matter if it’s the wife… They are some good people. They served this country well. See, that was an innocent bystander. But Mr. Josh, you’re going to stay away from that one. We don’t play about that one.
“Who knows whether he was in his right or wrong mind. But at the end of the day… be very careful and be very mindful [of] the people who you ain’t cool with or who you don’t like. The fact that even Joe Rogan was taken aback. That was tasteless. You’re doing way too much. Brother, please think about what you said, because that was stupid.”
Newton’s outrage on the matter is understandable because of the family’s contributions to the country, regardless of which part of the political aisle you find yourself in. And as the former Carolina Panthers quarterback pointed out, the tasteless nature of the comment was something that bothered many, including him. However, regardless of the reserved tone of Newton’s rebuke, the former 49er refused to back down.
Tasteless lol I’d literally slap you tasteless and you wouldn’t do anything about it..
Cam Newton Rips Josh Hokit Over 'Tasteless' Michelle Obama Insult at UFC Freedom 250 Details: complex.com/sports/a/berna…
“Tasteless lol,” Hokit responded on X. “I’d literally slap you tasteless, and you wouldn’t do anything about it.”
While Hokit isn’t backing down and appears eager to escalate the feud further, the backlash hasn’t died down. Instead, many are now distancing themselves from the comment or publicly expressing their anger with it.
Josh Hokit continues to face heat from all over
Besides Newton, several other political and non-political individuals condemned the remark. That includes UFC CEO Dana White, Robert Griffin III, Shane Gillis, Daniel Cormier, and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, among others.
“That was disgusting,” White said during the UFC Fight Night post-fight presser. “Disgusting! No. I mean, there’s always going to be people that say things that most of us don’t agree with. You know, the time, the place, the f—ing… No!
“I respect all Presidents, present and past. Not everybody does. I’ve gotta listen to f—ing stupid s–t like that sometimes because I also believe in free speech.”
Similarly, Daniel Cormier also made his dislike of Hokit’s comments known in a video shared on social media.
“The comments he made just made no sense. It was unnecessary. He started his post-fight interview and was going to do one of those gimmicky things. Honestly, it’s lame as f–k,” the UFC HOFer stated. “He could have left and he could have made more fans. They would have gotten to see Josh Hokit. Instead, he goes and says the thing about Michelle Obama, who is the classiest person you will ever meet. She has only represented herself, her family, and this country with grace and class.
“That’s the type of statement that divides. I absolutely hated that. He needs to do better. There was no gain in Josh Hokit doing that. It was disgusting. Get it together dude.”
However, just like in Newton’s case, Hokit responded to Cormier with an equally disrespectful message, which suggests he is fighting fire with fire.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, whose birthday coincided with the event and who was in attendance, has not commented either to defend Hokit or to condemn him.
However, what’s even worse is that this isn’t the first time Hokit has done something like this. Hokit has a history of crossing the line. Even during his time in LFA, after defeating Eric Lunsford in May 2025, he had made the same remark about the former First Lady, according to Newsweek. The recent one marks the second public Michelle Obama remark in quite a short period, suggesting deliberate provocation rather than an isolated incident.
Even before that, after his victory over Denzel Freeman at UFC 324 earlier this year, he said the same thing about WNBA star Brittney Griner.
If you need more examples, he also insulted Alex Pereira’s mother prior to the event and after the event without being provoked. The heavyweight went so far as to puke on himself during the weigh-in, all for the sake of promoting the fight and himself.
In the end, instead of increasing his popularity, his comment turned most of the country against him. While the UFC and Dana White have graciously allowed him to continue, a few more controversies like this, and they would have to reconsider whether to keep Josh Hokit in the promotion and give him a platform to air his contentious statements or let him go and make an example.