UFC: Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson speaks out on Israel Adesanya's 'rape' comment

Grant Robertson. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson has spoken out against "flippant comments" made by Israel Adesanya on social media.

The UFC middleweight champion sparked controversy after making a distasteful social media post claiming he would rape a rival fighter.

"Bro, I will f….n rape you," Adesanya said in an Instagram video aimed at fellow UFC middleweight Kevin Holland.

Adesanya has since deleted the offensive video.

Robertson, who is also the Minister for Sport, said on Thursday morning that there was "never a time" to make flippant comments about rape.

"I'm sure Israel understands that, I believe he has deleted the tweet in question. It will be up to the UFC as to what they do," Robertson told RNZ.

"But I would certainly be making clear to him, and to anybody actually, that we have to take rape seriously. It's not an issue that anyone should be making jokes or flippant comments about at all."

UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya. Photo / Photosport

Rape Prevention Education executive director Debbi Tohill said comments like Adesanya's could normalise threats of sexual violence and with a huge social media following – more than 4.6 million people on Instagram and 860,000 on Twitter – many fans were exposed to the comments.

"People with a large social media following can play a significant role in reducing rates of sexual violence and creating healthy cultures of consent for any sexual activity," Tohill told Stuff.

"Conversely, these kind of comments where rape is used as a threat create a culture where it is acceptable to make sexualised comments with the potential to cause further harm.

"Sportspeople and celebrities can really influence young people, we would like to see this happen in a positive way, not misused and normalising threats of sexual violence."

This is not the first time Adesanya has made an objectionable statement.

Last February, in a press conference ahead of his fight against Yoel Romero, he said he would drop his opponent like the Twin Towers.

"He's human like anyone else … I'll touch him enough times. I'll touch him enough times, and eventually he'll crumble like the Twin Towers."

"Too soon?" Adesanya added after the comment.

He issued an apology following this remark where he said his "brain worked faster than my mouth".

"You speak on the mic enough times and you are bound to miss the mark with some bars. I did on this one and for that I am sorry. I will be more careful in future with my words."

Adesanya is currently undergoing MIQ following his Las Vegas fight on March 7 against Jan Blachowicz and is yet to comment on his most recent remarks.

Where to get help

Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.

NZ Police

Victim Support: 0800 842 846

Rape Crisis: 0800 88 33 00

Rape Prevention Education

HELP Call 24/7 (Auckland): 09 623 1700, (Wellington): be 04 801 6655 - 0
Safe to talk: a 24/7 confidential helpline for survivors, support people and those with harmful sexual behaviour: 0800044334.

Mosaic - Tiaki Tangata Peer support for males who have experienced trauma and sexual abuse: 0800 94 22 94