Fact Check: Did Josh Hokit apologize to Michelle Obama for calling her a man?

WASHINGTON, DC: Josh Hokit's controversial remarks about Michelle Obama continue to fuel online debate days after they were made. Now, a new rumor is circulating on social media claiming that the UFC heavyweight fighter apologized to the former First Lady for calling her a man during a post-fight interview.

The controversy began at a UFC event held on the White House lawn, where Hokit sparked backlash by saying, "Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?" 

Let's fact-check the claim.

Claim: Josh Hokit apologized to Michelle Obama

The rumor appears to have originated from an X user who shared a post labeled "Breaking." The user claimed, "Josh Hokit formally apologizes to former First Lady Michelle Obama regarding his comments following his dominant win."

The post included an alleged screenshot of a message attributed to Hokit that read, "I spoke with former first lady Michelle Obama to apologize for my distasteful comments following my win."

It also claimed that Hokit pledged $50,000 of his earnings to the Obama Foundation and stated, "I will be an active spokesman for Black women in America." The post further featured an alleged image showing Hokit shaking hands with Obama.

The rumor also conflicts with Hokit's actual posts on X, in which he rejected criticism over his remarks and argued that people apply a double standard when commenting on figures such as Melania Trump and Charlie Kirk. However, replies to the post commented on the claim as satire. Let's find the truth.

Fact Check: Josh Hokit did not apologize to Michelle Obama

The rumor claiming that Josh Hokit apologized to Michelle Obama for his derogatory remark is contradicted by the Community Note attached to the viral X post. The note stated, "No such apology appears on Josh Hokit's X account. The account sharing the image states in its bio that it posts satire."

The account's bio further reads, "SATIRE and Dark humor alert 😎 Matty Betss & Grant Dawson every Wednesday! (We don’t know where Moicano is, either, guys." This disclosure indicated that the account regularly shares satirical content.

Notably, the post included an edited image that appears to show Hokit shaking hands with Obama, along with a fabricated screenshot of an alleged X post. However, Hokit has not shared any such apology on his verified account. Searches for evidence of an apology, a donation to the Obama Foundation, or a pledge to become a spokesman for Black women in America do not produce any credible results.

Media coverage of the controversy has focused solely on Hokit's original remark and the backlash that followed, including criticism from UFC CEO Dana White. The image used in the viral post appears to be digitally altered, combining a photoshopped handshake with a fake social media post. Such edited images are a common satire tactic designed to appear authentic at first glance and mislead viewers who do not verify the source.