Retired UFC fighter and former Green Beret Tim Kennedy is under fire after admitting he falsely claimed one of the military’s most revered honors — the Bronze Star with Valor — and issuing an apology that many say rings hollow.
The scandal erupted after a resurfaced 2017 interview, posted by fellow former Green Beret Nathan Cornacchia on YouTube, showed Kennedy recounting a combat story that allegedly led to him receiving the prestigious Bronze Star with Valor. The problem? He never received it.
The award, reserved for acts of “heroism involving conflict with an armed enemy,” is not handed out lightly. Kennedy, now 45, had previously stated he never publicly claimed the Valor distinction. But the video clip told a different story — and the military community took notice.
Kennedy issued a lengthy Instagram apology, saying, “I want to take full and unequivocal responsibility for a serious mistake… I implied directly or indirectly that I had been awarded the Bronze Star with Valor. That is not true, and there is no excuse for it.”
I want to take full and unequivocal responsibility for a serious mistake.
Over the years, I made public statements and gave interviews in which I unintentionally misstated aspects of my military service. Most notably, I implied directly or indirectly that I had been awarded the…— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) July 9, 2025
He acknowledged that his statements disrespected those who did earn the award and said he was “deeply sorry” for letting the veteran community down. “Integrity is not situational,” Kennedy added, vowing to never again elevate himself “beyond what I actually did.”
But not everyone is ready to accept the apology.
Another former Green Beret, Alex Theodosis, unleashed a blistering rebuttal on Instagram: “Tim, your entire public persona and the lies that you’ve told are anything but ‘unintentional.’ None of what you’ve crafted was by accident.”
With Tim Kennedy back in the news getting crushed for more insane and almost always fake stories, please understand that most veterans aren’t like him.
There are incredible men who you will never hear about who did exceptional things for this country.
They deserve respect.
— David Hookstead (@dhookstead) July 7, 2025
Theodosis didn’t hold back, accusing Kennedy of lying since 2007 “with the purpose of fame and money.” He dismissed Kennedy’s statement as a “ChatGPT crafted non-apology” and said it’s less about remorse and more about damage control.
“This is a clear cut case of ‘I’m not sorry I did it, I’m sorry that I got caught,’” Theodosis wrote, adding that the apology doesn’t come close to what the Special Forces community deserves.
Kennedy, known for his rugged image and outspoken patriotism, had built part of his post-MMA identity around his military service — making the fallout from this controversy all the more brutal.
While Kennedy insists he’s committed to rebuilding trust, critics aren’t convinced. In a community built on honor and sacrifice, words may not be enough.
