UFC star Michael Chandler stood by his controversial comments about raising his black sons not to see color.
The MMA fighter said “virtue” is the “most important thing” about being a “good man” after coming under fire for his attitude towards raising children of a different race.
He and his wife, Brie Chandler, are parents to seven-year-old Hap and two-year-old Ace, both of whom they adopted.
During a appearance on The Shawn Ryan Show in April, Chandler said, “Whether you’re black or white, no matter what race you are, there are certain things about being a man and being a good man when it comes to character and integrity and protecting the helpless and tenacious people. ready for those who need it.”
He continued, “Being a good man, a good man with a good reputation, none of that has anything to do with skin color. Everything has to do with the character of the man. Probably not an answer that some people would care about, but that’s where the world has gone.”
UFC star Michael Chandler stood by his controversial comments about raising his black sons
He and his wife, Brie Chandler, are parents to seven-year-old Hap and two-year-old Ace
Chandler addressed his comments about “not raising black children” during a interview on The Pivot podcast last week, hosted by former NFL players Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder.
“I think obviously that soundbite could be cut… those little five seconds could be cut, and of course I would say, ‘Wait a minute,’ but when you dig deeper into it, it was all about their skin color. not the most important thing about them,” he explained.
“And maybe I’m wrong when I say that, maybe other people don’t agree with me. The most important thing about a man is being a man and the virtues, the things and the characteristics of being a good man.”
Although critics condemned the 38-year-old for seemingly failing to acknowledge the challenges his children may face due to the color of their skin, Chandler insisted he plans to have conversations about race when the couple is older.
“My wife had wanted to adopt an African-American boy since she was a teenager,” he explained
Chandler said he plans to talk to his sons about race when the couple is older
“Obviously if I had done that interview and my sons were 14 and 11, it’s a little different,” he continued.
‘I have a two-year-old and a seven-year-old. So maybe that question will be answered to me in five years, or… you know, my son Hap is seven now, so we’re moving in that direction, but he’s always just been a little kid, and then Ace is just a grandchild. child. So there is always a scenario that suits the age.’
Elsewhere in the interview, he explained why Brie planned to adopt children.
“My wife had wanted to adopt an African-American boy since she was a teenager. My wife has had that on her heart since she was a teenager,” Chandler said.
“I remember her doing mission work in the inner city, and going on mission trips to Jamaica with her father. Everyone knew she would do it eventually, one day. And she always said: If I marry a good man, this is what I want to do.’
The couple welcomed their first child in 2017 before adopting their second son in 2022.