South Africans have shown their tenacity and community spirit by coming together online to defend their country against critical comments made by UFC fighter Sean Strickland.
GLOBAL (17 August 2024) β When times get tough, South Africans have a great way of coming together. We may argue amongst ourselves, but the moment someone from outside denigrates us, the whole country comes together. And this time, UFC fighter Sean Strickland is learning that lesson firsthand.
Sean Strickland is no stranger to controversy. Known for his brash personality and outspoken opinions, he has made waves both inside and outside the Octagon. But his recent comments about South Africa on X (formerly Twitter) have touched a nerve in Mzansi and sparked a wave of reactions he probably never expected.
In a tweet that quickly went viral, Strickland posted:
“If UFC Drikas wins, I might have to go to South Africa. Do you really want me to go to a corrupt country with deep-rooted racism and poverty, on the brink of civil war?!? ‘This is what South Africa is like’ (laughs).”
“That country is the worst. I fought poverty, racism and violence as a child. It’s especially sad for the children. I’ve been to an orphanage and they don’t even try to do the right thing there.”
Strickland’s post has been viewed nearly a million times and went viral, but rather than garnering support, it has sparked a flood of strong replies from South Africans who have no intention of dragging their country through the mud.
“South Africa may be a very interesting country but if you insult one of us you insult 60 million of us. You you π€£π€£π€£,” one user hit back, perfectly capturing the unity and humour that defines South African resilience.
Another person pointed out to Strickland: “South Africa has more freedom of speech than the US, there is no postal voting, results are counted within 72 hours, the South African rand is rising against the US dollar. Sean, you live in the new third world. In the US everything is fake.”
And one sarcastic comment: “You do realise Dorikus is only the third best fighter in Boksburg. Come here and say it to our face πΏπ¦”
Strickland’s comments about the country’s history did not go unnoticed, with one response perfectly summing up the journey of change South Africa has undergone: “Maybe when you were a kid we still had apartheid. Now we have GNU. It’s the vibes. Pull a Boetti ππ½ππ½.”
South Africans were not only defending their country, but also condemning Strickland, with one user saying: “Poverty, racism, violence… just like America πΊπΈ.”
But perhaps the most poignant response came from a user who pointed out the hope that sport brings to the country: “There is always hope, Sean. Look at the way sport unites South Africans. Look at the video after last year’s Rugby World Cup win. What Dricus is doing is building on that. Whether he wins or loses, every South African will be hailing him as a hero.”
As Drix du Plessis prepares to face Israel Adesanya in the early hours of Sunday morning (South African time), the people are standing firmly behind him. Yes, South Africa faces challenges such as high crime rates, poverty and corruption, but these challenges do not define the spirit of the nation. South Africans are resourceful, resilient and unwavering in their hope for a better future. They stand together and that unity shines through, especially when it comes to defending their country.
Sean Strickland, maybe you should think twice before you say anything bad about South Africa online. The country may have its problems, but it’s also full of passion, courage and unwavering community spirit. And when it comes to standing up for our people, South Africans always stand up.
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