Recent internet chatter has been rife with unfounded speculation regarding the sexuality of former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. These unfounded rumours were stoked by the presence of a rainbow flag emoji in Woodley’s Instagram bio and a video, falsely edited to depict Woodley kissing another man. The video was, in fact, a misrepresentation of a genuine clip showing Woodley embracing his friend and rapper, Wiz Khalifa.
In response to the assertions, Woodley has openly clarified that he is not gay, expressing his support for the LGBTQ+ community. He explained the rainbow flag emoji in his Instagram bio was a symbol of solidarity with the victims and families of the 2016 Pulse nightclub mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, and not an indication of his sexual orientation.
The unfounded rumours around Woodley’s sexuality were further heightened amidst a scandal involving a leaked video, which surfaced in January 2024. The explicit video content, allegedly featuring Woodley in a compromising position with an unidentified woman, rapidly spread across social media platforms and prompted a significant backlash.
The sex tape scandal has indeed been a significant tarnish on Woodley’s reputation, drawing widespread criticism from fans and peers alike. The alleged explicit video emerged on New Year’s Day 2024, quickly flooding MMA Twitter with a barrage of reactions. Internet users, in typical fashion, responded with a blend of humour and critique, drawing parallels between the scandalous footage and Woodley’s renowned fighting career.
Jake Paul, a previous opponent of Woodley, did not miss the opportunity to weigh in publicly, further fuelling the controversy surrounding the scandal. As the video continued to rack up views, the online discourse surged, with fans taking to social media platforms to express varying sentiments. Some fans injected humour into their comments, while others contrasted the situation with Woodley’s past fights.
In the midst of the online furore, this scandal highlights the complex relationship between personal actions and public personas in the sphere of professional sports. Before this scandal, Woodley was known for his relationships with women, being married to his ex-wife Averi Woodley since 2009, with whom he shares four children, and having dated former UFC fighter and current bare-knuckle boxer, Paige VanZant.
