UFC star who worshipped Trump says he was “fooled” and “tricked”
"He talked a good game. He tricked me."
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Here are the latest trending internet culture stories today:
A UFC fighter who once said he’d “take a bullet” for Donald Trump has decided against that idea, checking in on how the Star Wars fandom is handling the failed Ben Solo movie news, and it’s AOC vs. Riley Gaines in the latest social media showdown.
See you in the next one,
— W.J.
⚡️ Today in Internet Culture
“He tricked me”: UFC fighter who once said he’d “take a bullet” for Trump now calls him the Antichrist
UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell posted an Instagram Reel renouncing his longtime support for President Donald Trump. The fighter, who once said he’d “take a bullet” for Trump, said his views had changed completely after years of believing the president shared his values.
In the clip, Mitchell said, “Hey, I want to let y’all know I’m not with Donald Trump no more. I don’t support him, I don’t like him. I think he’s a corrupted leader.” He explained that his shift came slowly, but his Christian faith and new research led him to see Trump differently.
“Show Disney this is what fans actually want”: Ben Solo fans take extreme measures in hopes of getting Adam Driver’s movie made
After Adam Driver revealed that Disney rejected a Star Wars spinoff centered on Ben Solo, fans of the character launched a full-scale campaign to bring the project back to life.
The movement, known online as #TheHuntForBenSolo for the title of the rejected script, quickly moved beyond social media. Fans began buying out billboards, plane banners, and even posting “missing” flyers outside Disney executives’ homes.
“Get a real job”: Riley Gaines tried to dunk on AOC. It did not go well for her
New York politics met online outrage again this weekend as transphobic activist Riley Gaines clashed with New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) on social media. A former college swimmer, Gaines is known for her stance against transgender women in sports. In 2022, she tied with Lia Thomas for fifth place at the NCAA Championships, leading her down the path of anti-trans activism.
🕸️ Crawling the Web
✈️ A popular TikToker bonded with fellow Delta passengers after one of the engines went out on the flight, forcing an emergency landing.
🎶 The Whitney Houston Challenge is undergoing another round of interest on TikTok as folks test their familiarity with an iconic song.
📝 A student whose work the professor claimed was AI broke down in tears in a TikTok video, saying, “I’m just sorry that I talk normal.”
☕ Keurig must pay Canadian customers up to $50 per person after a class-action lawsuit found the coffee brand’s guidance on recycling its pods misleading.
🛻 A groom was left in tears after his bride surprised him with his dream car, going back to his childhood—a classic Ford F100 pickup truck.
🚕 Producer and actress Mikayla Petrilla posted footage of her Waymo ride running a red light last week from inside the vehicle.
🔥 Hot on the Dot
This was the most-read story on the Daily Dot yesterday: