A deeply uncomfortable moment unfolded recently when UFC veteran Tom DeBlass found himself on the receiving end of what can only be described as one of the most tone-deaf interviews in combat sports history. The former Bellator and UFC competitor, who has been courageously open about surviving childhood s*xual abuse, was subjected to a cringe-worthy exchange that left viewers surprised.
The interview began innocuously enough, with discussion about men’s mental health. DeBlass, now 39 and retired from professional MMA, emphasized the importance of emotional expression for men, stating, “I think it’s important for men to express their feelings. There’s a lot of mental health issues out there and I think men need somebody to talk to for sure instead of holding it all in.”
However, what happened next defied belief. The interviewer, rather than showing sensitivity to the serious topic at hand, suggested DeBlass should “take some st. João’s watch or maybe some chamomile tea and just relax yourself. You know turn that frown to be upside down.”
When pressed about his personal experiences with trauma, DeBlass revealed: “I was s*xually abused as a child, you know, I mean that’s not an easy thing.”
The interviewer’s response was nothing short of appalling. Rather than acknowledging the gravity of DeBlass’s revelation, they made an inappropriate comment about his appearance as a child, asking if he “must have been an attractive young gentleman.”
The interview reached peak cringe when the host attempted to wrap up with what they seemed to think was sage advice: “I’m gonna tell you this like they say, okay when life give you a s*xual abuse, you gotta make lemon juice.”
DeBlass, displaying remarkable composure throughout the ordeal, simply responded: “Thank you for the advice, I appreciate it.”
While the interaction struck the audience and BJJ enthusiasts as offensive, DeBlass later clarified in an Instagram video that he was not hurt or offended, stating that the interview was a skit. stressing that. He explained that the remarks were part of the character’s intentionally ignorant persona, not an attempt to mock his trauma.
DeBlass also acknowledged why those unfamiliar with their relationship may have perceived it as insensitive. The interviewer was Rhasaan Orange, a comedian and actor best known for portraying his satirical alter ego ‘Renato Laranja,’ an arrogant, thick-accented Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion.
Tom DeBlass has been notably transparent about his traumatic childhood experiences, which he detailed in his autobiography “How You Bear It: Triumph and Resilience in Life.” In that book and subsequent interviews, DeBlass has spoken about being m*lested at age seven by an older child, an incident that haunted him for decades.
“When you’re a child, you’re very pure, you’re very innocent,” DeBlass previously told CNN. “When that happened, I thought it was my fault. I thought it was all my fault and I felt I was going to hell.”
The New Jersey native, who owns Ocean County Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, has found purpose in creating safe spaces for people from all walks of life to train and heal.
