On a recent episode of The Breakfast Club Power, Charlamagne tha God named UFC star Josh Hokit his “Donkey of the Day” after Hokit used his post-bout interview following his UFC Freedom 250 win to declare, ‘Michelle Obama is a man.’
Addressing Hokit’s remarks, Charlamagne argued that the comments reflected a broader resentment toward what the Obama family represents.
“The Obamas haven’t been in the White House since 2016,” he said. “But what they represent, the possibilities they represent for black people in this country, scare insecure white men like Josh Hokit.”
“It bothers them and terrifies them to think the descendants of the oppressed can rise to the levels that the Obamas did in this country,” he continued. “Josh Hokit, you got the right last name, sir, because this is indeed the starter kit for being a h*e.”
Charlamagne then noted that similar claims about Michelle Obama have circulated for years.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve heard this foolishness,” he said. “All through Obama’s presidency, Michelle Obama being a man was right up there with the birtherism theory.”
“It used to be on message boards and in the deep dark crevices of the web,” he added. “They used to call the former First Lady Big Mike.”
After playing a clip of Joan Rivers making similar comments and discussing how figures such as Alex Jones later amplified the theory, Charlamagne dismissed the claims as an old theory that has repeatedly been disproven.
“It doesn’t even make sense to fact check foolishness like this,” he said. “This is just a baseless theory that has been circulating on the internet forever and it’s been debunked over and over and over again.”
“The truth don’t need no defense,” he continued. “Only witnesses.”
Charlamagne then questioned why Hokit chose that moment to make the remarks.
“I just find it strange that Josh Hokit just won a match,” he said. “You did what you came to do. You had a chance to thank your family. You could have promoted your next matchup. You could have saluted your sponsors. You could have told your mama you love her.”
“Instead, you used your moment to shout out Trump and slander former First Lady Michelle Obama,” he continued. “All you do when you bring the Obamas up is remind people of what is currently missing from the White House.”
He went on to praise the former first family and contrast them with current political discourse.
“The Obamas set a standard for decency and class and poise and intelligence in the White House,” Charlamagne said. “You didn’t have to agree with the Obamas politically to recognize that they were a masterclass in dignity.”
“Truly grace under fire,” he added. “Now that bar is in hell. The bottom is their ceiling. And people like Josh Hokit remind us of that every chance they get.”
Charlamagne also connected the controversy to the stated purpose of the UFC Freedom 250 event, which celebrated America’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
“This event was supposed to be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which asserts that all people are created equal and possess unalienable rights,” he said.
“This was a reminder that Josh Hokit and people like Josh Hokit don’t look at black people as equal. It’s really that simple,” he continued. “This was his way of marginalizing the First Lady and trying to remind us all they don’t see us as equals and life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is for them, not us.”
Closing out the segment, Charlamagne argued that such rhetoric fits into a long history of attempts to dehumanize Black Americans.
“This country has been trying to dehumanize black people forever,” he said. “Every few years, somebody comes and dusts off the same tired playbook and introduces it to a new generation.”
“My brothers and sisters, don’t let ignorance dehumanize us,” he continued. “Since some of us came to this country, they have been trying to question our humanity, our intelligence, our beauty, and I guess now even our gender.”
“Never let anybody else’s prejudice become your self-image,” Charlamagne said. “Black people have survived way too much to let such theories and stereotypes define us. Their dehumanization is their sickness, not our identity.”
The controversy surrounding Hokit has continued beyond his comments. Recently, footage surfaced appearing to show President Donald Trump removing Hokit’s chain from around his neck following the commets. However, neither Trump nor the White House has publicly commented on the incident.
