Former UFC star Ben Askren has found himself at the center of a social media firestorm after posting criticisms of socialism and government programs, despite recently relying on crowdfunding to help cover the costs of a life-saving double lung transplant.
The 41-year-old wrestling champion, who survived a harrowing medical crisis that saw his heart stop for 20 seconds on four separate occasions, has been actively sharing his views on economic policy and government effectiveness on social media.
“Socialism sounds good when you are young because you are not old enough to realize the government sucks at everything they do,”
Askren posted on his account, drawing immediate backlash from critics who pointed to his recent medical fundraising efforts.
The irony of his statements wasn’t lost on observers. Just months after his family actively sought donations to help cover the substantial medical costs associated with his double lung transplant—which can cost up to $2,000,000 in the United States—Askren took aim at Social Security and other government programs.
“If you think the government does a good job with Social Security, your IQ is less than 60,”
he wrote in another post, suggesting people would be better off privately investing in the S&P 500.
The former Olympian’s comments sparked a wave of criticism highlighting what many perceived as a glaring contradiction. Critics noted that in countries with universal healthcare systems, someone in Askren‘s situation wouldn’t need to rely on the generosity of strangers to afford medical treatment. One response read:
“Man who couldn’t afford a lung transplant in one of the few developed economies in the world without Universal healthcare btw.”
Another commenter observed:
“Guy who had to ask for handouts to save his life wants to talk about how the government shouldn’t fund healthcare. Capitalism and no safety net would’ve bankrupted him and his family and he still would’ve died.”
Askren then continued posting about cryptocurrency and economic policy, including claims that Bitcoin has inherent value and predictions about the dollar’s future devaluation. His recent endorsement of a questionable cryptocurrency venture just days after returning home from the hospital has added another layer of concern among his supporters.
Ben Askren promoted a meme cryptocurrency called FUNKY, which was quickly “rug pulled” and rendered nearly worthless. The coin was actually created by notorious celebrity crypto promoter Sahil Arora, who reportedly paid Askren to advertise it, claiming the former MMA star understood it was a harmless meme coin. However, Arora has a history of tricking celebrities into unknowingly endorsing pump-and-dump schemes, and FUNKY’s quick collapse raised suspicions despite Askren likely being unaware of the full extent of the crypto play. Most MMA fans avoided investing, limiting losses, and Askren reportedly received a mid-five-figure payment for his promotion.
Askren‘s medical journey has been nothing short of harrowing. The former champion suffered severe pneumonia and a staph infection that led to complete lung collapse, necessitating the emergency transplant.
As the backlash mounted, reports emerged that Askren began blocking critics who pointed out the apparent inconsistency between his anti-government rhetoric and his reliance on community fundraising for medical expenses. The former champion, who had been sharing his recovery journey with followers, appeared less receptive to commentary about his political positions.
