Ironically, the debut of Power Slap started with a video from TMZ showing Dana White and his wife engaged in an argument in which they exchange slapping one another. In a pop culture where everyone complains about being cancelled, White suffered no consequences for his actions.
First, the TMZ video was not produced immediately which allowed White and company to devise a response to what was on it. It is well-known that TMZ and the UFC work together to produce videos which promote the company and give the outlet the scoop on information.
In his first press conference, White acknowledged his actions and remorse. He also stated that his punishment would be labeled as a domestic abuser and the video will be associated with him for the rest of his life.
That would be it.
Interesting enough, ESPN writers were ‘strongly discouraged’ from writing anything incendiary about Dana White.
We've been told to not write anything incendiary on social media about the Dana White situation, and I understand why and have abided by that. I just ask y'all to understand that some of us at ESPN do not have as soft a take as this on domestic violence. https://t.co/yE7zPe4fxM
— Jeff Wagenheim (@jeffwagenheim) January 5, 2023
Of course, the fact that TBS delayed Power Slap’s debut a week might be construed as punishment or cover for people to forget what White did.
But notably, the presumed adults in the room, Endeavor, did nothing to reprimand or punish White for his actions despite being a representative of the company. Endeavor did not even issue a press release which would condemn the regrettable actions of White. Disney nor ESPN said anything either. Even if it was done in the heat of the moment, the company did not address it at all. One could infer that Endeavor, Disney and ESPN did not want to upset White.
Calls for White’s removal from his position by a California Advocacy Group went unheard.
Even if Endeavor allows Zuffa to run autonomously, there should have been some repercussion about the issue.
And while most people would suffer the consequences, White did not. In fact, as was expected, he turned around criticism to that of the media. Once again castigating a straw person about dwelling too much on a personal matter.
The reason why this story is one of the tops of the years is to show the unfettered power of Dana White. Even Endeavor and ESPN refused to issue statements contrary to the promotion head. This shows their need for him more than corporate cultural norms. And for ESPN to ask its writers to refrain from drawing a light to White’s actions shows the type of control the UFC and White have over executives. They do not want to upset the people that are making the money for the company so they allow issues like domestic violence to go through without scrutiny.
White is still one of the most powerful men in sports for a variety of reasons and this is an example of how and why.
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