SERENA WILLIAMS' HUSBAND ADDRESSES CRITICS OVER WHITE HOUSE UFC EVENT. (PHOTO).

 Serena Williams' husband addresses critics over White House UFC event

Alexis Ohanian, husband of tennis star Serena Williams, faced backlash after attending President Trump’s 80th birthday celebration at the White House, which doubled as a UFC event staged by Dana White’s TKO group. The spectacle drew criticism when fighter Josh Hokit used his post-fight interview to make a vile slur about former First Lady Michelle Obama.

 Ohanian, who co-founded Reddit and now owns several sports teams, stayed silent for days before finally condemning the remark on social media, insisting he had already left the event when it was made.

In his statement, Ohanian explained that he attended at the invitation of UFC’s parent company and emphasized his past decision to resign from Reddit in protest against hate-filled communities. He also noted he was leaving the venue early due to jet lag from traveling between Europe and the U.S. to support Williams’ tennis comeback. 

While he expressed relief that Dana White publicly denounced the slur, many critics online accused Ohanian of poor judgment for attending the event at all, given his family ties and public stance against hate speech.

Social media reactions were swift and harsh, with users questioning his priorities and accusing him of betraying his values. Some pointed out the contradiction of a white man married to a Black woman and raising two Black daughters attending what they described as a “klan fest.” 

Ohanian’s defense did little to quell the outrage, as many felt his presence lent legitimacy to a gathering they viewed as toxic. He joins comedian Nate Bargatze as one of several public figures now facing intense scrutiny for appearing at the controversial celebration.