Dana White sat down with host Katie Miller on her podcast, and talked about his views on masculinity, traditional gender roles, and what he believes is a growing problem among young men today.
The UFC CEO, who has frequently been associated with what critics call the “manosphere,” took aim at the modern conversation surrounding men’s mental health and emotional vulnerability.
“I ha te this whole men’s mental health bulls**t that they talk about,” White said. “Unfortunately, when you’re a man, you are the provider. You are the one that takes care of your family. You are the example for your kids when they grow up.”
White then explained that he becomes frustrated when he sees men openly sharing emotional struggles online.
“I see these guys posting on social media. Oh, I had a bad day and I’m so sad and all this other crazy stuff,” he said.
Miller responded by calling that behavior “so unattractive,” a point White immediately agreed with.
“Oh, it’s just it’s unattractive to other males, let alone women,” White said. “I can’t even imagine. I’m really against all that stuff.”
The conversation later shifted toward traditional gender roles and why White believes many men are moving away from them. He made it clear that, in his opinion, those expectations are never going away.
“It is never ever going to change,” White said. “I don’t care how powerful a woman is, what she does. Women want to be taken care of, treated right, and they want to feel safe. It’s just that’s nature. And it’s a man’s job to do all that.”
White also reflected on the differences between the culture he grew up in and the current social climate.
“I grew up in the ’80s when men were men. Now it’s a whole other world out there,” he said.
The UFC CEO also addressed the “toxic masculinity” label that has followed him over the years, including during a Q&A appearance at Harvard Business School. Rather than distancing himself from the criticism, White leaned into it.
White summarized his frustration with what he sees as a decline in masculinity.
“There’s nothing I hate when men don’t act like men,” he said. “It drives me absolutely crazy.”
