Dana White argued that his position as head of the UFC did not save his job after the New Year’s Eve incident with his wife in 2023.
White was interviewed on The Breakfast Club, and host Charlamagne the God brought up the incident and whether his role as head of the company protected him from punishment.
Charlamagne: You think being the boss of the brand protected you from consequences?
White: No
Charlamagne: No? Definitely. Come on, Dana.
White: Definitely not. There’s a board of directors, there are other people that are involved that could have pushed for that but, yeah. I think, and obviously they think too, it would have hurt the company more if I did step away.
In January 2023, a video clip emerged on TMZ from New Year’s Eve, where the couple was at a nightclub in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Anne was seen slapping Dana, who responded by slapping her.
The UFC president (now CEO) apologized publicly for the actions, stating there was no excuse for it, and all criticism was warranted toward him.
He did not receive any formal punishment from Endeavor and was quoted at the time:
What should the repercussions be?” White said. “I take 30 days off? How does that hurt me? I told you guys as we were going through [the COVID-19 pandemic], COVID could last 10 years, and I could sit it out. It’s much like COVID, actually. Me leaving hurts the company. Hurts my employees. Hurts the fighters. Doesn’t hurt me. I could’ve left in 2016 [when the company was acquired by Endeavor]. Do I need to reflect? I’ve been against this. I’ve owned this. I’m telling you that I’m wrong.
“Here’s my punishment: I have to walk around for however long I live — and this is how I’m labeled now. My other punishment is that I’m sure a lot of people — whether it be media, fighters, friends, acquaintances — who had respect for me might not have respect for me now. There’s a lot of things I have to deal with the rest of my life that’s way more of a punishment than, what, I take a 30-day or 60-day absence?
White stated on The Breakfast Club that he was one of the most lenient guys in sports when dealing with free speech, or “bad things that happen”. He defended that “I’m in the fight business”.
