Israel Adesanya Apologises Over Rape Comment
UFC star Israel Adesanya has apologized for making an insensitive statement about his fellow fighter and opponent Kevin Holland.
Naija News reports that the Nigerian-born New Zealand MMA fighter made a rape comment while trash-talking Holland in a since-deleted video.
“Bro, I will fuckin’ rape you,” Adesanya had said in an Instagram video directed at Kevin Holland, who had targeted him with a series of insulting remarks.
However, in a statement on Friday morning, Adesanya said he “crossed the line” and he understands the gravity of what he said.
The statement reads: “Last week fight talk escalated to a point in which I crossed the line. I understand the gravity of this word and how it can affect and hurt other people apart from my opponent, although that was never my intention. I am still growing under the spotlight, and I take this as a lesson to be more selective with words under pressure.”
— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) March 25, 2021
Adesanya’s apology came after New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Grant Robertson, criticized the MMA fighter saying there was never a time to make flippant comments about rape.
Grant Robertson also called on the UFC to take action against Adesanya.
He had said: “There is never a time to make flippant comments about rape. It’s just not something anybody should do.
“I’m sure Israel understands that. I believe he has deleted the tweet in question. It will be up to the UFC as to what they do.
“But I would certainly be making clear to him, and to anybody actually, that we have to take rape seriously.
“It’s not an issue that anyone should be making jokes or flippant comments about at all.”
