Kathrine Frich
He also defended his presence by pointing to his extensive professional sports investments.
Attending a high-profile party usually seems like a harmless way to celebrate with peers.
But when the guest list includes the most polarizing figures in politics, a fun evening can quickly turn into a public relations nightmare. One prominent tech founder is now learning that lesson the hard way.
Under heavy fire
Alexis Ohanian, the husband of tennis legend Serena Williams, recently joined a crowd of celebrities at a special White House event.
The event combined a high-energy UFC fight night with a celebration for Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.
The star-studded gathering quickly triggered a massive public backlash. Fans and critics blasted the public figures for showing support, forcing several famous attendees to issue statements defending their choices.
Ohanian became the latest celebrity to break his silence after cameras caught him in the arena. The internet entrepreneur rushed to social media to clean up his image and explain his sudden appearance.
Responding to slurs
The tech investor used his personal account on X to address a massive controversy that erupted during the matches. A cage fighter sparked outrage by hurling a nasty insult at a former first lady.
“Lot of people asking me to comment: Yes, that fighter’s slur about former First Lady Michelle Obama was vile and inappropriate,” Ohanian posted.
He claimed that he missed the offensive comments entirely because he left the venue early. The tech founder expressed relief that UFC boss Dana White eventually spoke out against the fighter’s rhetoric.
Defending his record
Ohanian also defended his presence by pointing to his extensive professional sports investments. As an owner of five professional teams and a sports league, he insisted the trip was strictly business.
He reminded critics of his long history of fighting internet toxicity. Years ago, he stepped down from his executive role at a major social media platform to protest online bullying.
“For context: I resigned in protest from Reddit (the company I co-founded and built for over a decade) specifically to push it to curb communities for hate and violence on the site,” Ohanian stated.
Sources: X, Reddit
