Bud Light has not commented after UFC fighter Josh Hokit delivered a transphobic line about Michelle Obama on the beer’s sponsored stage during a UFC event on the White House South Lawn on President Donald Trump’s birthday. The omission comes as UFC CEO Dana W
For now, Bud Light is staying quiet.
The beer sponsor on the White House South Lawn on Sunday did not respond to requests for comment after UFC fighter Josh Hokit used the stage to deliver a transphobic line about former first lady Michelle Obama.
Hokit. a 28-year-old professional mixed martial artist. closed out remarks about his win in the Ultimate Fighting Championship Freedom 250 with the words: “Michelle Obama is a man!. Am I right. America?” The event—described as a violent spectacle—was held on the South Lawn on President Donald Trump’s birthday. After winning the Freedom 250 fight, Hokit also appeared for an interview with host Joe Rogan.
It wasn’t the first time Hokit had made the same transphobic comment about Obama. The fighter has also previously said he wished he had tried to deport his own mother, who is from Mexico.
Anheuser-Busch, which owns Bud Light, has not offered public comment on Sunday’s remark. The company also did not respond to comment requests made on Monday.
The silence lands in a moment when Bud Light already occupies a highly charged political cultural spotlight. The brand faced backlash from conservative culture figures after partnering in 2023 with transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Bud Light produced a custom can featuring a photo of Mulvaney. and she released a short video promoting the brand and March Madness to nearly 11 million followers. Conservatives framed the partnership as too political and called for a boycott. Maga-aligned singer Kid Rock joined the controversy by filming a video of himself shooting a gun at cans of the beer.
According to the reporting around that backlash, the pressure was intense enough that top marketing executives reportedly took leaves of absence, and Anheuser-Busch facilities received bomb threats.
At the time, Anheuser-Busch neither explicitly supported Mulvaney nor disavowed the partnership. CEO Brendan Whitworth said in a lengthy statement then, “We never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people,” adding, “We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer.”
Sunday’s moment drew pushback from within the UFC world. While the White House has not addressed Hokit’s comment, UFC CEO Dana White spoke out against it. In a text message to Time magazine. White said. “I understand that the Obama’s are public figures but I’m completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families.” He added. “Everyone knows my position on free speech but I hate that kind of nonsense.”.
For Bud Light, the question is whether it will break its silence now—after a stage it sponsored became part of an argument aimed at a former first lady’s identity—at a time when the brand already knows how quickly a cultural fight can become a business crisis.
Bud Light Josh Hokit UFC Freedom 250 White House South Lawn Dana White Dylan Mulvaney Anheuser-Busch Brendan Whitworth Michelle Obama transphobic comment
Bud Light needs to speak up.
Wait so the beer sponsor didn’t say anything? That’s wild. Also “Michelle Obama is a man” like… where’s HR or whoever lol.
I mean UFC is kind of trashy already, why is everyone acting shocked. But if it’s on their sponsored stage then yeah they should at least pretend they care. Does Bud Light control what the fighters say or am I missing something?
This is why I don’t buy anything tied to politics. Like last time it was that Mulvaney stuff and now this… it’s all connected somehow. Also Obama on a beer stage like seriously? I bet Kid Rock’s video is gonna go viral and then Bud Light will “apologize” real late and pretend it wasn’t their fault, which is the whole thing anyway.