Boxer sacked after homophobic rant goes viral
James Hawley has had his contract with MTK Global torn up with immediate effect after a video of him went viral this afternoon.
A professional boxer has been sacked by his management company after sharing homophobic and transphobic abuse on TikTok.
James Hawley has had his contract with MTK Global torn up with immediate effect after a video of him went viral this afternoon.
In a clip shared online by Drag Race UK star Baga Chipz, Hawley, 21, is seen answering questions including whether he supports the LGBT community.
He responds by saying: ‘I, a thousand, million per cent do not agree with this, no.’
He goes on to say that he understands ‘girls getting with each other’ but adds: ‘boys, on the other hand, and transgenders, there’s something seriously wrong with them.’
Hawley, who also goes by the nickname ‘Hitman’, has since had his TikTok account deleted but the video has still been watched tens of thousands of times.
One Twitter user sent it to MTK Global, a boxing management and events promotions company, who responded to say they would be no longer representing Hawley in any format.
Their response said: ‘The boxing community is about respect and unity and MTK Global prides itself on its community focus and inclusive ethos.
‘It has always been our mission to make boxing accessible to all, embracing individuality and being a safe space where community can express themselves and support one another.
‘MTK Global does not in any way condone, or support the views that were shared in any way, nor will these comments ever be considered as acceptable from any of our fighters hence the decision that was made by management.’
In a video shared on his Instagram page this afternoon, Hawley responded to the news and confirmed he had been let go.
He said: ‘I completely understand and empathise in their (MTK Global’s) action.
‘Last night (when the video was posted) I had hit a brick wall and I had had enough of the messages and disgusting, disturbing images that I was being sent by a few members of the gay community and I lashed out and said a few things I didn’t mean.
‘I have friends who are gay and I also have a cousin who is gay so I never meant anything by it and I’m sorry for who I offended.’
But people continued to suggest that other brands associated with the boxer should be contacted including Millwall Football Club whose club crest appears on his shorts.
One tweet said: This is what happens when you get punched in the head for a living’ while another said: ‘your’s sincerely, your career’.
In the original post, Baga Chipz, who recently appeared on Celebrity Masterchef, tweeted: ‘Today’s scum is no other than ‘pro-boxer’ and really hard man James Hawley.
‘Homophobic filth. What a hard man. Report the low life. What an absolute piece of dirt.’
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