CNN
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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White said he did not expect punishment after a video surfaced showing him in a physical altercation with his wife earlier this month . White made the comments Wednesday during a media day for UFC Fight Night 217.
Asked if he expects any repercussions from the company, White said, “What should the repercussions be?” You tell me. Do I take 30 days off? How does this hurt me?
“My departure hurts the company, hurts my employees, hurts the fighters. It doesn’t hurt me.
“What is my punishment?” Here’s my punishment: I have to walk around as long as I live…and that’s how I’m labeled now.
“The punishment is that I did it, and now I have to deal with it.”
In the video, obtained by TMZ, White and his wife Anne are seen arguing before exchanging slaps at a nightclub in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on New Year’s Eve. Neither White nor his wife are facing any legal proceedings for this incident.
White claims conversations were held between him, Endeavor chief executive and UFC owner Ari Emanuel and broadcaster ESPN about the appropriate action.
“We’ve had a lot of discussions internally – with Ari, with ESPN – no one is happy,” the 53-year-old said. “No one is happy about that. Me neither. But it happened.
White also said he wasn’t looking to make excuses for his behavior and reiterated his stance on domestic violence.
“There’s never an excuse…There’s no defense for this and people shouldn’t defend me for this thing, no matter what.”
On Monday, the California Legislative Women’s Caucus wrote an open letter to Emanuel and Endeavor calling for White’s replacement as UFC president.
“Given Mr. White’s previous remarks against domestic violence, we believed that Endeavor and the UFC shared this commitment to safety, respect and accountability,” the letter read.
“And yet we saw the video of UFC President Dana White punching his wife at a New Year’s party… We were appalled. It was alarming to say the least. Since the video was broadcast, you have remained silent.
“We demand the immediate removal of Mr. White as President of the UFC.”
CNN reached out to Endeavor for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
When reached for comment, ESPN provided only a brief statement saying, “We have been covering the story on our platforms since it broke and will continue to do so.” »
TBS has delayed the premiere of Dana White’s reality series – Power Slap: Road to the Title – by a week to January 18. TBS and CNN are part of the Warner Bros. network. Discovery.
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