Dana White says he "can't stand" talk about men's mental health in light of Republican vs. Democratic debate over masculinity
UFC CEO Dana White's commitment to succeed is deeply anchored in his philosophy of stoic masculinity, and the ability to push through adversity. White has claimed in the past that resilience is strength and men should have the ability to shoulder burdens in the face of hardship.
At a time when fighters like UFC lightweight star Paddy Pimblett are shedding light on the pressing need for men's mental health support, White's take on the matter seemingly reflects the divide between the Republicans and Democrats on the subject.
The broader national debate surrounding men's mental health paints the Republican values as championing a traditional view of masculinity, while Democrats seemingly advocate for a more inclusive understanding.
During a recent interview with Time Magazine, White endorsed his support for Republican leader Donald Trump, asserting that the nation "needs a strong leader" and the "world needs a strong America." The interviewer then questioned White on Trump walking on the stage to 'It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World' by James Brown and the notion that Republicans often champion traditional views.
While shedding light on the question "What is a real man?" White voiced his strong disapproval of the growing discourse surrounding men's mental health, stating:
"I believe that, as a man, there’s all this talk about men’s mental health. I can’t stand that sh*t. Yes, guess what? Life is hard. It’s a nasty, ugly world out there. It’s not perfect. And you can’t afford to be a man and talk publicly about, 'Oh, my mental health.' We all have bad days and good days. And I believe that as a man, you suck that sh*t up." [H/t: Time Magazine]
He added:
"It’s funny, it’s fascinating, and interesting that there is so much emphasis on, what is a real man? What's he supposed to do? I don't really know what to make of it. But I think that you are who you are. I f*cking love Kid Rock and his music. But you know what? I don't hunt. I don't kill animals. If there's f*cking a Big Rack deer in my backyard, I want to see it, not f*cking shoot it."
Dana White ignores bonus request at the Noche UFC 306 press conference
UFC fighters have joined forces on stage to demand a bonus upgrade ahead of pay-per-view events in the past. Dana White famously agreed to a significant bonus request, agreeing to the $300K fight night bonuses for UFC 300.
At the Noche UFC 306 press conference, several fighters on stage urged the UFC CEO to raise the bonus. However, White claimed in the past that he was done handing out bigger post-fight bonuses after he agreed to elevate it to $100,000 for UFC 304. He seemingly ignored the request of the fighters and carried on with the press conference.
Check out the video below: