Sheryl Crow calls Trump’s UFC B-Day brawl on the White House lawn ‘disgraceful’

Like many Americans, Sheryl Crow said she was disgusted by the spectacle of the massive UFC octagon, which towered over the White House. The singer posted a heated comment on his Instagram Story on Monday (June 15) condemning the for-profit bloodsport spectacle being held on the Lawn of the People’s House at a time when many in the country are suffering from soaring gas and commodity prices due to the president’s war of choice with Iran.

“What happened on the White House lawn last night was shameful and unconscionable,” she wrote. “Powerful and wealthy people filled their lawns to watch violent sports that ended with vile and racist comments, while the average American could not afford to pay for health care, gas, or living expenses.”

Crow, a longtime and frequent critic of President Trump, added, “Don’t be fooled. This administration is corrupt and doesn’t care about the American people. Despite our democracy, all it cares about is making money at the expense of money. If we continue to support this type of distraction from reality, we are no better than them. Let’s be better, America.”

At the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House on Sunday (June 14), coinciding with President Trump’s 80th birthday, fighter Josh Hokit ended his post-fight interview by repeating a hateful, sexist slur favored by some on the right against former first lady Michelle Obama, saying, “Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?”

The day after the insult, Dana White, CEO and president of the UFC and a friend of President Trump, texted Time magazine, according to CNN: “I understand that the Obamas are public figures, but I completely disagree with saying mean and untrue things about people’s families. Everyone knows my position on free speech, but I hate nonsense like that.” The network reported that the comment was met with a mix of boos and cheers from the crowd, and that Trump appeared to “smile momentarily” after Hokit made the false and offensive remark.

Along with Bruce Springsteen, Jack White and Tom Morello, Crowe has been at the forefront of a group of musicians who have consistently targeted Trump during his second term. She has frequently criticized the president, including in January when she called for the former reality star’s impeachment and imprisonment over the Epstein file and the president’s well-documented relationship with the late convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“People named in the Epstein files in other countries are being slammed for this. Not in America. We just act like it never happened. Or like it was fake,” Crow wrote on his Instagram Story at the time. Who are we if we don’t advocate for children who are intentionally abused? [peddled] To wealthy leaders around the world. Trump needs to be impeached and jailed along with everyone else…Democrats, Republicans, Americans and foreigners who knew this was happening and said nothing.” Trump has denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein and claims he cut ties with his former confidante before news of the financier’s misdeeds became public.

Last July, Crowe slammed President Trump’s “immoral” leadership in a fiery song he recorded with his touring band, The New Normal, in which he sang, “If the news is fake and fear is hate and there’s nothing immoral / Leader of the free world, welcome to the new normal.”