Former UFC welterweight Ben Askren found himself at the centre of a firestorm after making controversial political comments following his life-saving lung transplant. During a recent episode of Funky and the Champ with Daniel Cormier, Askren addressed the backlash head-on, refusing to back down from his statements despite the intense criticism.
The controversy erupted when Askren posted about socialism on social media: “Young people only like socialism because they’re not old enough to figure out how bad the government is at everything.”
The timing of this statement proved particularly inflammatory, coming after Askren had received a lung transplant following a medical emergency that nearly claimed his life in May 2024.
The response from critics was swift and severe. Askren revealed the extent of the vitriol he received during his conversation with Cormier. “Listen, the socialists, they’re like, ‘F you. I can’t believe you got lungs. I hate you. I can’t believe anyone donated to you. I hope you die.’ Like, literally the most comments I’ve ever seen about anything ever,” Askren explained.
The backlash centered on what many perceived as hypocrisy. Critics pointed out that Askren’s transplant and recovery involved crowdfunding efforts from supporters, government-regulated organ donation systems, and medical infrastructure that many associate with collective social support systems.
The irony of denouncing socialism while benefiting from community support and regulated medical systems was not lost on his detractors.
Despite the massive wave of negative responses, Askren showed no signs of retreating from his position. Rather than apologizing or clarifying his stance, he doubled down, even bringing up the topic unprompted during the podcast with Cormier. The wrestler turned MMA star seemed unfazed by the controversy, treating it as just another topic of conversation alongside discussions about his recovery and upcoming wrestling matches.
The former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champion spent over 40 days unconscious following his medical emergency in Las Vegas. His wife Amy played a crucial role in getting him to the hospital after noticing alarming symptoms. The wrestling community rallied around Askren during his recovery, with friends, former students, and fans providing support throughout his ordeal.
