They say, “better late then never,” and that is what former UFC champion Ronda Rousey is going concerning a social media mishap.
Rousey now wants to own up to a mistake she made more than a decade ago and publicly apologizing for sharing a conspiracy video about the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. In a statement, Rousey called it “the single most regrettable decision of my life,” acknowledging that her actions contributed to the spread of misinformation surrounding one of the most tragic school shootings in American history.
The post in question, which she shared in the aftermath of the shooting, resurfaced recently on Reddit when Rousey hosted a Q&A session about her graphic novel fundraising campaign. Users demanded to know why she had never issued a direct apology for amplifying a baseless conspiracy theory—one that falsely suggested the tragedy was staged. The theory has been widely and quickly debunked.
Rousey did not shy away and admitted that she knew at the time the video’s claims weren’t true but was “so horrified at the truth that I was grasping for an alternative fiction to cling to instead.” Though she quickly deleted the post, she acknowledged that “the damage was done.”
For years, she remained silent on the issue, in part due to fear that addressing it would only draw renewed attention to the conspiracy. Even when writing her recent memoir, Rousey initially included an apology but says her publisher urged her to remove it. Ultimately, however, she realized that taking responsibility was long overdue.
“But honestly I deserve to be hated, labeled, detested, and worse for it,” Rousey wrote. “I deserve to lose out on every opportunity, I should have been canceled, I would have deserved it. I still do.”
“I apologize that this came 11 years too late, but to those affected by the Sandy Hook massacre, from the bottom of my heart and depth of my soul I am so sorry for the hurt I caused,” she added.
The public’s response has been mixed. Some commend Rousey for finally addressing the mistake, while others question why it took more than a decade to make amends. A spokesperson for the lawyer representing the Sandy Hook families declined to comment on Rousey’s apology.
Aside from that, Ronda has blessed us with some incredible video of her training again.
To prove she’s back in the gym, Rousey posted a video of herself with none other than former opponent Cat Zingano. The two met in the Octagon at UFC 184, where Rousey submitted her with an armbar submission just 14 seconds into the fight, marking her fifth title defense. Years later, the two are training partners, with Rousey expressing gratitude for the opportunity to shake off the rust and rediscover the joy of martial arts.
