UFC Welterweight Mike “Platinum” Perry is facing criticism from his peers and fans for using the N-word in a tweet towards African American actor Michael Jai White.
Blood and bone more like bitch ass nigga @MichaelJaiWhite
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) January 7, 2020
This was in response to White’s behind the scenes details from his movie “Blood and Bones” and his interaction with Kimbo Slice. White discusses how Kimbo had difficulty reacting to a punch in a prison scene in the movie and that he tried to give Kimbo advice on how to strike without being telegraphed. White claims that “Kimbo became a little too frustrated with the process. He was still a little to freaked out and felt dominated, sometimes that messes with a fighters psyche.”
One of Perry’s peers, Angela Hill has spoken out against Perry for using the N-word.
White people using ‘nigga’ to insult a black person, I don’t give a fuck what your intentions were, it ain’t right. The few times I’ve run into Perry during fights he’s seemed cool, this isn’t cool. https://t.co/4PnQ5vHKVl
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) January 8, 2020
The UFC, however, has yet to make a disciplinary or a verbal response to Perry. This is not Perry’s first time using the N-word publicly, he tweeted at Tyron Woodley using the word on May 24, 2018. Perry was met with criticism by former Bellator and UFC fighter Gerald Harris. The UFC didn’t respond to Perry’s tweets back then either.
My nigga @TWooodley be Instagram livin and drivin lol hope there is not a video of you getting pulled over on IG Live one day PATNA ! 👈🏼 ( Skreet slang for Partner ) 👆🏼👈🏼 peep the tone in my imoji skin #RNS
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) May 24, 2018
I’m not the first white boy sayin nigga and you can’t do shit about it anyways. You actin dumb right now so stfu
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) May 25, 2018
The UFC once disciplined fighters for their public comments before. Some may recall Nate Diaz receiving a three-month suspension and 20K fine for saying a homophobic slur towards Bryan Caraway. Another example of this is when the UFC suspended former UFC and current Bellator Fighter Matt Mitrione for his transphobic comments towards now retired transgender MMA fighter Fallon Fox. However, it seems the UFC is being selective now on when to discipline fighters for what they say.
Perry has not taken down his tweets or apologized, in fact, he has doubled down and responded to the criticism.
You have to make a big deal out of this. A white man said that to you because you straight up being one. Y’all can’t act like you don’t hear me. It was bull shit he was trying to slander a real gangsta so people would think he more than an actor. For #FLA we say #FOH
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) January 7, 2020
By staying in silence the UFC is showing either intentionally or unintentionally that they don’t care and that their past of disciplining fighters was hypocritical.