Ronda Rousey apologizes for sharing a conspiracy video about the Sandy Hook massacre in 2013. The former UFC and WWE champion released the apology on Friday morning after her recent fan Q&A was flooded with reminders of her actions.
Rousey attended one Ask Me Anything on Reddit earlier this week. Well-known guests answer questions from fans on the popular Reddit subform. The Reddit post was flooded with memories, jokes and demands for an apology after Rousey shared the conspiracy video 11 years ago. Reddit uses a voting system to determine which posts are the most visible. The top comment on Rousey's AMA acknowledges a YouTube video Rousey shared in January 2013 Bleacher Reporta month after the December 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut, in which 20 children and six staff members were killed.
Rousey called the video “extremely interesting and a must watch” in 2013 before deleting the tweet.
“I can't tell you how many times I've reworded this apology over the last 11 years,” Rousey wrote in the early hours of Friday morning. “How many times have I convinced myself that it wasn't the right time or that I would cause more damage if I gave it. But 11 years ago I made the most regrettable decision of my life. I watched Sandy Hook.” I didn't even believe the conspiracy video, but was so horrified by the truth that I reached for an alternative fiction to cling to. I quickly realized my mistake and deleted it, but the damage was done.
Rousey claimed she included an apology in her final memoir before her publisher “begged” her to remove it. The apology was ostensibly removed so as not to overshadow the rest of the book.
“I convinced myself that apologizing would just reopen the wound for no other reason than a selfish attempt to make myself feel better,” Rousey said. “That I would hurt those who are suffering even more and potentially lead even more people into the black hole of conspiracy bullshit by bringing it up again just so I could try to avoid the label of a 'Sandy Hook' “To shake off truthers.”
The former UFC women's bantamweight champion and three-time WWE women's champion said she deserves any outrage directed at her. Rousey apologized for the pain her actions caused.
“I deserve to be hated, labeled, loathed, resented and worse,” Rousey said. “I deserve to miss every opportunity. I should have canceled. I deserved it. I still do that. “I apologize that this came 11 years too late, but to those affected by the Sandy Hooker massacre, from the bottom up.” In my heart and deep in my soul, I am sorry for the pain I have caused, so sorry. I cannot imagine the pain you have endured and words cannot describe how remorseful and ashamed I am for having contributed to it. I have regretted it every day of my life since then and will until the day I die continue to regret.
Rousey concluded her statement by urging others who have been misinformed by conspiracy theories to reconsider their thinking. Rousey said that digesting such conspiracy theories was not a fruitful due diligence exercise and would only cause harm.
“And for anyone else who has fallen into the black hole of bullshit: it doesn’t make you nervous or an independent thinker. You are not doing your due diligence and exploring every possibility by digesting these conspiracies. They will only make you feel powerless, anxious, miserable and isolated. No matter how many bridges you have imposed on yourself, do not fall for it. No matter how long you have been on the wrong path, you should still turn back.
You can read Rousey's full statement below.
