Kiwi UFC superstar Israel Adesanya has been dumped as ambassador by BMW following his offensive comment. Photo / Getty Images
BMW have dropped Kiwi UFC superstar Israel Adesanya as an ambassador following his comments about rape.
Adesanya was due to be unveiled as the new face of the BMW New Zealand on Monday, the same day as the launch of the new BMW M3 and M4 models.
However, the offensive
comments Adesanya made earlier this week on social media - threatening to rape a fellow UFC fighter Kevin Holland - have landed him in hot water.
"Bro, I will f….n rape you," Adesanya said as part of what he perceived as "fight talk".
In a statement to the Herald, BMW said: "Due to the comments made by an athlete online, we have reviewed our pending association with said athlete and we have decided not to push forward with a specific ambassador for the brand at this time in New Zealand."
