Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey recently attempted to engage with fans on the Squared Circle subreddit through an “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) session, aiming to promote her new graphic novel, Expecting The Unexpected, and her ongoing pro wrestling career. However, the event quickly spiraled out of control, overshadowed by a barrage of questions and comments regarding her past controversial statements about the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting.
Rousey, who is in the process of trying to get her first graphic novel published through a Kickstarter campaign, likely anticipated a straightforward discussion about her new project. Instead, she found herself fielding numerous questions about a 2013 incident in which she shared a conspiracy theory video that questioned the legitimacy of the Sandy Hook tragedy, where 26 children and staff members were killed.
Although Rousey later deleted her original post promoting the video, she never issued a comprehensive apology, which many participants in the AMA were quick to point out.
The AMA session, which lasted for about two hours, became increasingly dominated by these critical questions. The top comment directly confronted Rousey, stating, “Considering 20 children were slaughtered and one was shot as many as 11 times, is it fair to say that you owe a much better public apology than the one you issued?” This comment set the tone for much of the discussion, as fans repeatedly pressed her on the topic.
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Another participant sarcastically asked, “In your graphic novel ‘EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED’ Will we see something unexpected like you apologizing to or acknowledging the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook Massacre?” Others took jabs at her past roles, including her portrayal of Sonya Blade in Mortal Kombat 11, questioning whether her views on Sandy Hook had affected her performance.
The tone of the AMA grew increasingly hostile, with some users mocking both her wrestling and MMA careers, and others even speculating about her possible dissatisfaction with her public relations team for allowing the AMA to proceed under such volatile conditions.
One Redditor criticized her decision to use Kickstarter for funding, saying, “Kickstarter is for those lacking resources to fund their projects. Given your likely lucrative contracts with Hollywood, UFC, and WWE, why are you launching a Kickstarter? Also, why should everyday people support a campaign from someone who’s probably earned millions?” This added another layer of scrutiny to the already tense session.
The relentless questioning didn’t stop on Reddit. Even on other platforms like X (formerly Twitter), users continued to pile on, turning what was intended to be a promotional event into a public relations nightmare. Despite her best efforts to engage with fans about her new project, the AMA was largely derailed by the unresolved controversy, forcing Rousey to navigate a flood of criticism rather than focusing on her graphic novel and wrestling career.
The incident highlights the challenges public figures face when past controversies resurface, particularly in unscripted, open forums like Reddit.
For Rousey, what was supposed to be a positive interaction with her fanbase instead served as a reminder that the internet never forgets, and that public figures must carefully manage how they address past missteps.
