MMA community responds to Meryl Streep’s Golden Globes jab
This image released by NBC shows Meryl Streep accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017. (Paul Drinkwater/NBC via AP)
Despite inspiring many with her 74th Golden Globe Awards speech, Meryl Streep offended the mixed martial arts (MMA) community with her comments.
The veteran Hollywood actress, who received the Cecil B. DeMille Award, used her speech to slam US President-elect Donald Trump and, later, “demean” the MMA and the National Football League, claiming that these sports “are not the arts.” “Hollywood is crawling with outsiders and foreigners, and if we kick ’em all out, you’ll have nothing to watch but football and mixed martial arts, which are not the arts,” she said.
READ: Streep, Trump trade barbs amid actress’ Golden Globes speech
Instead of lashing out at her, famed Bellator CEO and promoter Scott Coker invited Streep to witness the dynamic action with her own eyes. “Please be my guest at the LA forum on January 21st and you will see that Mixed Martial Arts is truly artistic,” Coker tweeted on Monday. “The global sport of mixed martial arts celebrates male and female athletes from all around the world who work years tirelessly honing their craft and – yes – art.”
As a martial artist and an MMA promoter, here is my open letter and #Bellator170 invite to the very talented #MerylStreep #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/zostN22RAK
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) January 9, 2017
Another MMA celebrity, Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White, responded to Streep’s scrutiny and called her an “uppity 80-year-old woman.” “Of course, it’s an art,” White defended to TMZ Sports. “These fighters, these men, and women are so talented…saying something stupid like that is like saying she’s not a talented actress which she is.”
Meanwhile, Trump responded by brandishing Streep, 67, as “one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood.” Gianna Francesca Catolico
Meryl Streep, one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood, doesn't know me but attacked last night at the Golden Globes. She is a…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2017
