UFC advertiser tries to pressure Dana White to remove pro-Trump video

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UFC president Dana White revealed that a major advertiser once tried to pressure him into taking down a pro-Donald Trump video off his personal social media page.

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“I posted a video for Trump. Right? On my personal social media, and one of our big sponsors called and said, ‘Take that down.’ Know what I said? ‘Go f*** yourself. You vote for whoever you wanna vote for, and I’ll vote for whoever I want to vote for.’ That’s how this works,” White said during an appearance on Theo Von’s This Past Weekend podcast.

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White didn’t name the company, but said he won’t be pressured when it comes to politics — or about his friendship with Trump.

“I don’t even care who you vote for. It’s none of my f***ing business. F*** you. Don’t ever f***ing call me and tell me who to vote for!” he said, emphatically.

“A lot of people live in fear these days,” Von said. “A lot of people feel that if they don’t vote for certain people they’re going to lose their jobs.”

“Think about how f***ing crazy that is,” White replied. “It’ll keep happening unless more people stand up for themselves and give them the ‘F*** you’ response.”

Von also recounted how Peloton wanted their ads removed from his show when he had Robert F. Kennedy on as a guest, which enraged White.

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“Peloton were the people who wanted the ad out,” Von said.

“Peloton sells stationary bikes and they got a problem with Robert F. Kennedy? F*** you, Peloton,” White said, seething with anger. “Who the f*** are they? Are you f***ing kidding me? F***ing Peloton calling b******g about Robert Kennedy. Who’s the CEO of Peloton? … We’re getting rid of the Pelotons.”

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Back in 2016, White endorsed Trump at the Republican National Convention, praising his ability to be a fighter.

“I’ve been in the fight business my whole life. I know fighters,” White said during his speech (per Bleacher Report). “Ladies and gentlemen, Donald Trump is a fighter, and I know he’ll fight for this country.”

In his fiery address, he credited Trump with helping build the UFC into the formidable brand it is today.

“Arenas around the world refused to host our events,” White said. “Nobody took us seriously; nobody except Donald Trump. Donald was the first guy that recognized the potential that we saw in the UFC and encouraged us to build our business.”

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White was all smiles with Trump at a UFC event in New York City over the weekend when he accompanied the former president to his seat at Madison Square Garden alongside musician Kid Rock and political commentator Tucker Carlson.

Earlier in the day, Trump appeared at a campaign stop in New Hampshire where he derided current President Joe Biden and floated a possible job in his administration for White should he win the election next year.

“There’s a guy I’d like to make my defence chief,” Trump said. “I wouldn’t call him my defence chief, I’d call him my offence chief.”

mdaniell@postmedia.com

X: @markhdaniell

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