The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. 

Floyd Mayweather gives stunningly ignorant response to #MeToo question

Hint: he didn't talk about strong women

Jeremy B. White
San Francisco
Thursday 11 January 2018 23:23 GMT
Comments
Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. during a post-fight news conference at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. during a post-fight news conference at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada (REUTERS/Steve Marcus)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Boxer and domestic abuser Floyd Mayweather has apparently not been paying too much attention to the #MeToo movement.

As most people with a cursory knowledge of current events could tell you, the term refers to the torrent of women who have come forward to describe their experiences of sexual harassment and assault, in the process toppling a series of powerful luminaries in the fields of entertainment, media and politics and forcing a national reckoning with sexual violence against women.

But in Mr Mayweather’s interpretation, the term is about him. And money.

Asked in a Men’s Health interview about the movement, Mr Mayweather initially responded: “The who”? When an interviewer explained it was “women speaking out about sexual assault,” the retired fighter uncorked the following:

“When you say ‘me too’ ... When somebody is like, ‘I got a Rolls Royce,’ I be like ‘me too.’” When somebody say they got a private jet, I say, ‘Me too. I got two. Me too,’” he said.

When the interviewer tried to interject, he plowed on: “Well, I didn't know! My Me Too movement from the beginning was whenever somebody said what they have I'm like, ‘me too.’ Somebody say they got a billion dollars, I say, ‘I made a billion dollars, me too’”.

Mr Mayweather has repeatedly been accused of battery and domestic violence. He pleaded guilty in 2011 to a battery domestic violence charge stemming from an altercation with his ex-girlfriend; was convicted in 2004 of two counts of misdemeanour battery after a fight with two women at a nightclub; and entered a plea bargain for domestic violence charges in 2002.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in