Jack Osbourne has defended his choice to attend the UFC fight at the White House over the weekend, saying some of the negative comments he received were “completely crazy and what’s the point?”
The former reality star shared a video on his YouTube channel talking about the backlash he has received, sharing several examples of social media comments such as “I’m so disappointed” and “This is kind of gross.”
“I went to a sporting event, that’s all,” he clarified. “I didn’t go to throw my hat in the ring for political office.
“I wasn’t there to support politicians or foreign affairs. Nothing. I literally went to the White House to watch the UFC.”
Osborne explained that he has been interested in martial arts all his life, starting with taekwondo at the age of six, studying Muay Thai in Thailand in his late teens and early 20s, and taking up jiu-jitsu in his 30s.
“I’ve been to UFC and PRIDE matches, going back to the early 2000s. It’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Osbourne said.
When invited by UFC president and CEO Dana White, he said, “Of course I’ll go. Anyone who gets an invitation will go.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t think of anyone who would say, ‘I don’t accept Orangeman or any other reason, so I’m not going to do something like that.'”
He called the backlash “ridiculous,” stressing, “It wasn’t a political event, or in my eyes it wasn’t. It was a bad fight in the White House. Who’s going to call it that?”
The 40-year-old said he told his wife, who attended the event, that it would be great if more sporting events were held at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, noting that some past presidents have held events on the White House lawn.
The Night of Terror host was furious with a fan who said his father, the late Ozzy Osbourne, would not approve of his attendance.
“You didn’t know my dad. You didn’t know where he stood on things,” Osborne said. “Yes, he wrote a song called ‘War Pigs,’ for sure. It’s an anti-war song. He wasn’t anti-UFC. He wasn’t against going to White House events. He was anti-war.”
He noted that his father attended the White House Correspondents’ Dinner during the Bush administration, and showed a video of him jumping up and down excitedly when the former president yelled at him.
Ozzie also went on USO tours, visiting wounded military personnel at Walter Reed Medical Center, his son said.
“So basically just shut up,” he added. “It’s just insane to bring my dad into this and have him approve or disapprove. I was just participating in a sporting event in a sport that I respect so much and has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.”
He added: “So deal with it. I’m sorry I wasn’t invited.”
