Popular content creator Moist Critical, also known as Charlie White, has called attention to what he perceives as a troubling inconsistency in UFC President Dana White’s charitable priorities. During a recent video discussing the health insurance crisis facing former UFC fighter Ben Askren, Critical highlighted the stark contrast between White’s generous spending on influencers and his apparent lack of personal financial contribution to Askren’s life-saving medical fundraiser.
You can DONATE to help with the lung transplant costs.
Askren, who has been fighting for his life over the past month, now requires a double lung transplant after being hospitalized with pneumonia. Despite being medically necessary for his survival, the expensive procedure has been denied coverage by his health insurance company, forcing his family to turn to crowdfunding for the substantial medical costs.
Critical expressed particular frustration with White’s response to the crisis. While the UFC president did share Askren’s fundraiser on his social media story to raise awareness, Critical noted that there was no indication White had made a personal donation to the cause. This stood out as especially problematic given White’s well-documented history of lavish spending on content creators and gambling.
“Dana White drops like a couple hundred thousand to like YouTubers just to be nice to them yet I haven’t heard about him himself donating for the Ben Askren life-saving surgery,” Critical observed. He emphasized that while White isn’t required to donate, the amount needed would be relatively insignificant for someone of his wealth, describing it as equivalent to “a night of gambling for him.”
The commentary highlights a broader critique of priorities within the UFC organization and sports entertainment industry. Critical’s observations suggest that while White readily provides substantial financial gifts to influencers like the NELK Boys for promotional purposes and spends heavily on personal gambling habits, he appears hesitant to extend similar generosity to a former fighter facing a genuine life-or-death medical emergency.
This situation underscores the ongoing healthcare crisis in America, where even former professional athletes with significant earnings can find themselves financially vulnerable when facing catastrophic medical expenses. Critical’s criticism of White serves as a microcosm of larger discussions about wealth inequality and the responsibility of those in positions of power to support members of their community during times of crisis.
The contrast between White’s documented generosity toward content creators and his apparent reluctance to personally contribute to Askren’s medical fund raises questions about the UFC’s commitment to supporting its fighters beyond their active careers.
