Ronda Rousey, the former UFC champion and WWE star, recently hosted an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit to promote her first graphic novel, Expecting the Unexpected, which she co-created with legendary comic book artist Mike Deodato Jr.
The AMA was intended to be an opportunity for fans to engage with Rousey about her new project and her foray into the world of comics.
However, the session quickly spiraled out of control, turning into a public relations disaster.
Rousey kicked off the AMA with enthusiasm, eager to discuss her new graphic novel and share insights into the creative process. However, the tone of the event quickly shifted as users began flooding the thread with questions and comments about Rousey’s past controversies, particularly her previous comments regarding the Sandy H ook tragedy.
In 2013, Rousey faced backlash after tweeting support for a conspiracy theory video that suggested the Sandy H ook Elementary School incident was staged.
Despite the severity of the allegations and the widespread condemnation at the time, Rousey’s public apology was seen by many as insufficient. During the AMA, users pressed Rousey to address these past statements more thoroughly, asking if her views had changed now that she is a mother herself.
The barrage of criticism and pointed questions left the AMA thread overwhelmed with negative attention, detracting from the intended discussion about her graphic novel. Despite her best efforts to steer the conversation back to the comic, the relentless focus on her past comments made it clear that the AMA was no longer in her control.
Eventually, Rousey stopped responding to questions altogether, leading many to believe she had abandoned the AMA. This silence only fueled the fire, with commenters speculating on the reasons behind her departure. The event, intended to be a promotional tool, instead highlighted the lingering impact of her controversial past, casting a shadow over her current endeavors.
