Ronda Rousey apologizes for sharing a Sandy Hook conspiracy theory video in 2013, expressing deep regret and acknowledging the harm caused. The former MMA fighter reflects on her actions and warns against spreading harmful conspiracies.
Bollywood Fever: Former MMA fighter Ronda Rousey has issued a public apology for a 2013 tweet in which she shared a conspiracy theory video suggesting that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was staged.
In a heartfelt statement posted on social media, Rousey expressed her deep regret and remorse for her actions, acknowledging that they were a grave mistake.
“I can’t say how many times I’ve redrafted this apology over the last 11 years,” Rousey wrote. “How many times I’ve convinced myself it wasn’t the right time or that I’d be causing even more damage by giving it.”
Rousey explained that at the time, she was grappling with the horrific reality of the Sandy Hook tragedy and was momentarily swayed by the conspiracy video, which she shared on Twitter. “I didn’t even believe it, but was so horrified at the truth that I was grasping for an alternative fiction to cling to instead,” she confessed.
Although she quickly realized her mistake and deleted the tweet, Rousey admitted that she chose not to address the issue further at the time.
She feared that revisiting the tweet could inadvertently amplify the conspiracy theory and cause more harm. “I was never asked about it, so I didn’t address it again until now, in fear that speaking on it previously would have the opposite of the intended effect — it could increase the views of these conspiracy videos,” she explained.
Rousey revealed that she had initially intended to include her apology in her memoir Our Fight, which was released earlier this year.
However, her publisher advised against it, concerned that the apology might overshadow the rest of the book and do more harm than good.
In her statement, Rousey did not shy away from accepting the consequences of her actions. “I deserve to be hated, labeled, detested, resented and worse for it. I deserve to lose out on every opportunity; I should have been canceled, I would have deserved it,” she wrote. She expressed profound sorrow for the pain she caused to those affected by the Sandy Hook massacre, stating, “I am so, so sorry for the hurt I caused. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain you’ve endured and words cannot describe how thoroughly remorseful and ashamed I am of myself for contributing to it.”
Rousey also addressed those who might be tempted to entertain conspiracy theories, warning that such actions do not make one an “independent thinker” but rather contribute to a cycle of harm and misinformation. “They will only make you feel powerless, afraid, miserable and isolated. You’re doing nothing but hurting others and yourself,” she cautioned.
This apology comes after questions about the Sandy Hook tweet resurfaced during a Reddit AMA on the wrestling subreddit r/SquaredCircle, where Rousey chose not to respond to inquiries about the incident.
Back in 2013, Rousey had shared a video from the YouTube channel ThinkOutsideTheTV, which falsely claimed that the families of Sandy Hook victims were paid actors.
At the time, she described the video as “extremely interesting and [a] must-watch” and initially defended her decision to share it, stating that “asking questions and doing research is more patriotic than blindly accepting what you’re told.”
In the years since, Rousey has transitioned from MMA to acting, appearing in films like The Expendables 3, Furious 7, and the TV series 9-1-1.
Despite her success, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the lasting impact that spreading harmful misinformation can have, and Rousey’s apology reflects her deep understanding of that reality.
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