Several big-name celebrities have turned down invitations to UFC’s upcoming White House South Lawn event, according to a new report.
UFC is staging a seven-fight MMA card on the South Lawn and has built a large lighting and production structure for the show, known as “The Claw.” The outdoor setting has raised concerns about bugs and weather, while political issues tied to Donald Trump, the war in Iran, and White House symbolism are also cited as concerns around the event.
Vanity Fair reports that Dwayne Johnson, Adam Sandler, Jared Leto, and Mario Lopez were invited but declined to attend. Vanilla Ice is expected to be there.
Aidan McLaughlin described the atmosphere around the card, saying, "The event is a real draw for folks looking to curry favor in Trump’s Washington and for DC’s MAGA crowd, which has delighted in the construction of a giant light fixture called “The Claw” that now towers above the White House," but added, "But there is one group that may well steer clear of the event: major celebrities." Some high-profile UFC fighters have also spoken out in protest of the White House event.
