Topics:Â Ronda Rousey, UFC, WWE
Former UFC and WWE champion Ronda Rousey has issued an apology after a 'shameful' social media post from 11 years ago resurfaced.
Rousey competed in the UFC from 2012 until 2016, and was the first-ever female champion in the organisation after Dana White announced she would hold the belt for the newly-formed women's bantamweight division.
Having made some appearances during her time as UFC champion, Rousey later signed for the WWE in 2017, and became champion before retiring in 2023.
But now, after a social media post that she shared in 2013 recently resurfaced, the 37-year-old has issued a detailed apology, for what she claims is the greatest regret of her life.
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11 years ago, Rousey shared a conspiracy video which questioned the official narrative of the Sandy Hook massacre, alongside the caption 'extremely interesting must watch video'.
The massacre led to 20 children and six adults losing their lives.
And, while hosing an 'AMA' (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit, Rousey was reminded of her 2013 post and of the apology she published shortly after, leading to her issuing a new lengthy statement addressing the matter today.
Posting on X, Rousey wrote: "I can't say how many times I've redrafted this apology over the last 11 years. But 11 years ago I made the single most regrettable decision of my life. I watched a Sandy Hook conspiracy video and reposted it.
"I didn't believe it, but was so horrified at the truth that I was grasping for an alternative fiction to cling to instead.
"I quickly realised my mistake and took it down, but the damage was done."
She continued: "I apologise that this came 11 years too late, but to those affected by the Sandy Hook massacre, from the bottom of my heart and depth of my soul I am so so sorry for the hurt that I caused.
"I can't even begin to imagine the pain that you've endured and words cannot describe how thoroughly remorseful and ashamed I am of myself for contributing to it. I've regretted it every day of my life since and will continue to do so until the day I die.
"I deserved 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. I still do."
