Schaub apologizes for questioning racial composition of FOX team
Brendan Schaub: “I’m going to ask you again, are those the best brains and speakers for the art, for the general audience?”
A recent UFC Tonight panel was composed of Karyn Bryant, Tyron Woodley, and Yves Edwards. It’s an inspired grouping.
Bryant brings a wealth of experience in media including CNN and MTV, and graduated from the renowned Lawrence Academy and Brown University. For the purposes of this blog, it’s relevant that she’s biracial. UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley was raised in Ferguson, Missouri, notorious for the shooting Michael Brown which led to nationwide protests. He, too, is brilliant in front of a camera, and has appeared in Olympus Has Fallen (2013), Straight Outta Compton (2015), and Sultan (2016). The Bahamian- American Yves Edwards had 21 fights in the UFC, a wealth of experience across combat sports, has worked for years as a stuntman, and brings unique insight into the sport.
It’s a fight media dream team. Unfortunately, former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub saw one thing.
Sometimes you are looking at UFC Tonight and you’re like alright ‘Is that the best panel possible? Or are you just trying to check off the boxes?’ We get it, UFC Tonight on FOX, you’re not racist, we get it you have an all-black panel,” he said. “Whoa, we get it. We get it man. Now I’m going to ask you again, are those the best brains and speakers for the art, for the general audience?
To answer Schaub’s question, yes. Yes, those are the best brains and speakers for the art, for the general audience.
Edwards was not impressed.
“Yo Brendan Schaub what’s this bulls*** you running your mouth about?” he tweeted.
Schaub caved quicker than Bob Sapp.
“Meant zero disrespect to you,” he replied. “I spent 30 mins praising Daniel Cormier and said he’s the best in the world besides Rogan. Kevin Lee and I were discussing black fighters & entertainment. Bad job on my part. That’s on me. I love you guys. Watch all of the shows. My bad. I’m sorry.”
And Edwards characteristically took the high road.
“I appreciate your apology,” he replied. “I wasn’t talking about race but when you say someone isn’t good enough to do the job and you don’t say who, I want to know if you’re talking about me. I wasn’t assuming or insinuating you are racist. Don’t sweat that, that’s not a thing.”
