'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABeAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABwgQAAICAgMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAECAxEABQQGEiEVAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEEQACAgIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMRACEEI0H/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AIbonHD6vr4WhiRNrr/1OdJGCZfJlZAiOSDfmhXwZnLlQdpTkzLFsR4EjBLc3V/LpcYwkKjsPpc3j+VI5aNL0kahQNVYvP/Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Some people believe that ESPN is minimally covering Dana White’s domestic violence situation because of his race.
The UFC president created mass controversy after a video of him slapping his wife on New Year’s Eve surfaced. Several people have defended Dana because his wife Anne hit him first, while others think there is no excuse for domestic violence.
Some people think the more prominent news outlets, especially ESPN, who are partnered directly with the UFC, aren’t covering the topic enough. Their reasoning is related to the UFC president being caucasian. Here are several of those racially-motivated opinions posted on Twitter:
“Y’all know @danawhite slapped his wife. Come on @espn @Espngreeny @GetUpESPN If that was a black athlete it would have been on every one of your outlets. Keep that same energy”
“@espn why yal going light on Dana white ??? If it was an black athlete he’ll be crucified”
“Notice the media’s narrative on this Dana White scandal. They are clearly putting the focus on his wife slapping him first when in reality he grabbed her arms first and the slap was a reaction to that. If Dana White was Black, hitting his wife would be the lead story on @espn."
“If Dana white was black, today ESPN would be telling you about his “troubled past” and the time he got into a fight in hs, followed by fist pounding and talk of consequences.”
"Dana white situation shows us white privilege still exist lol they did Floyd dirty tho when it was him."
Although ESPN declined to make a statement, Brett Okamoto and Stephen A. Smith have discussed the topic. Only time will tell if Dana receives any punishment outside of public humiliation.
Dana White’s 2014 comments about domestic violence have resurfaced
Before the New Year’s Eve video surfaced, Dana White was aggressively against any domestic violence situation, including Luis Pena being released from the UFC in 2021. Back in 2014, the UFC president had this to say about a man putting his hands on a woman:
“There’s one thing that you never bounce back from and that’s putting your hands on a woman. Been that way in the UFC since we started here. You don’t bounce back from putting your hands on a woman.”
Dana has commented on the situation by saying there is no excuse. His wife also released a statement saying they have reconciled after the altercation. The UFC president has been married to Anne White for nearly 30 years.
