Addison Rae was criticised for joking about her lack of broadcasting experience after landing a reporting gig for a UFC event
(Picture: Getty Images for dcp)Addison Rae has come under fire after joking about her role as a UFC correspondent for this weekend’s UFC 264 event.
The UFC 264 was one of the biggest sporting events of the year which saw Dustin Poirer defeat Conor McGregor at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The famous TikToker tweeted to her 4.8m followers a photo of her on the job with the tongue-in-cheek caption noting her lack of experience for the role:
“I studied broadcast journalism in college for 3 whole months to prepare for this moment.”
I studied broadcast journalism in college for 3 whole months to prepare for this moment pic.twitter.com/5Z95OTSVTA
— Addison Rae (@whoisaddison) July 10, 2021
Her joke has since prompted some angry responses from people online.
Many believe that it is unfair that Addison was able to get a job with little experience whilst others who study journalism for years miss out on the opportunity.
Stealing jobs from those more deserving, very classy 👍👍
— cryptic incognito (@CrypticNoHoes) July 10, 2021
This is disrespectful to all the people who go to college and work their asses off for jobs like this and sometimes don’t even get them but because Addison has clout she gets them over QUALIFIED sports journalists
— Victor jahaj (@vejijahaj_veji) July 10, 2021
this enrages me for so many reasons. like congrats but this is so poorly worded & is insensitive to people who HAVE studied journalism for 4+ years and won’t ever get a shot at an opportunity like that. & to brag about how unqualified you are for that job, is tone deaf, do better https://t.co/avTrVkFhx7
— Bree (@BreeGannon) July 11, 2021
What a weird way to say “my privilege allowed me to receive this opportunity over real qualified journalists, despite being extremely undeserving and unqualified myself” https://t.co/byKqJmRfvl
— Rin8k (@RinJassar) July 10, 2021
Journalism graduates weren’t exactly thrilled to see Addison doing a job they had been studying for years for.
I went to Journalism school for two years and interned (unpaid) for another 1.5 years after that. Never got hired on and had to switch careers. Thank you for this info. 🥲
— Erinn Alexander (@ErinnAlexander) July 10, 2021
Me, who just graduated with a four year degree in broadcast journalism after finishing my 70th cover letter https://t.co/DKm1hq7M1N pic.twitter.com/Rdaz5f1Qhv
— chase is vaccinated (@chase_berley) July 11, 2021
So, this chick can broadcast to the world how unqualified she might be and still have 4.6M and (had) a spot commenting for UFC, but my Black ass got TWO degrees and 8 years of experience in sports media and can’t get a TV job to save my life.
— Terrika (@SheKnowsSports) July 11, 2021
THIS 👏🏾IS 👏🏾AMERICA👏🏾 🤦🏾♀️ https://t.co/M1vqrXz4gi
But it appears the internet is divided over Addison’s tweet, as some stood up for the social media personality.
They argued that Addison would have been hired because of her far-reaching influence with a whopping 81.9m followers on TikTok.
people tell you to get a real job and then are mad when you get one smh
— dream (@dreamwastaken) July 10, 2021
/s
I work in broadcast as a news anchor. I don’t understand the outrage. Companies can hire who they choose. Being an influencer or having a big social media following can sometimes be a plus. There’s nothing wrong with someone getting a shot at something new 🙂
— Javonti Thomas (@Javontithomas) July 10, 2021
all the replies to this are like "how dare you my friend went to journalism school for six years and you were just handed this" which is hilarious because these people seem to believe in a meritocracy in...media? https://t.co/U0IKhyZuMb
— scaachi (@Scaachi) July 10, 2021
People are really accusing Addison of STEALING JOBS from journalists 💀 It’s a PHOTO https://t.co/LwwnoSYieY
— Kat Tenbarge (@kattenbarge) July 10, 2021
this isn't funny my dad died at broadcast journalism school https://t.co/9s4qP79mlx
— Lil Sasquatch (@lilsasquatch66) July 12, 2021
y’all are so lame let her do her thing man 😭 https://t.co/sdrCrqyku4
— z ♡ (@sleepyyzie) July 11, 2021
Just a few hours later after her original post, Addison then tweeted a follow-up revealing that the outrage had caused her to be fired from her correspondent job.
She quoted tweeted her original tweet, adding the caption “Nvm [nevermind] y’all got me fired.”
nvm y’all got me fired https://t.co/kHFFvHuSaM
— Addison Rae (@whoisaddison) July 10, 2021
Some were surprised that she was fired from her position and thought she was clearly making a joke in her original tweet.
Cancel culture is so bad. SAD! The haters and losers will never prevail
— Michael Gruen (@Michaelgr1011) July 10, 2021
This is so dumb. You were making a joke.
— Tom Ward (@motdraw1) July 10, 2021
Like, “I know I have zero experience at this but they picked me so I’m going to give it a shot.”
What tf is wrong with that?
I hate defending white women but it’s actually ridiculous, the way this turned out. https://t.co/8d4CQNbQ1o
— nylah burton (@yumcoconutmilk) July 11, 2021
y’all have to complain about everything💀 really got this poor girl fired from something she was excited to do https://t.co/JhLPyK0MB9
— Hannah🤓 (@hunnyybeexo) July 11, 2021
People are so miserable. https://t.co/0L4bPJHYrA
— Tia 👩🏾🎓🎉 (@TiaReloaded) July 11, 2021
Though others didn’t have much sympathy for the “Obsessed” singer and said it was her own fault for sharing her lack of broadcasting experience.
who told y’all to expose yourself for saying you only studied sumn for 3 months??? you coulda kept that information to you sis https://t.co/clNwOqNTpq
— gemma’s side piece (@summerlandgay) July 11, 2021
Oh yes its twitters fault, and definitely not the fact that you pointed out your own lack of experience. https://t.co/6qiNmXBFZw pic.twitter.com/WLKZChz9yj
— Oya 🌬 (@NadiaWhomst) July 11, 2021
I’m curious who “y’all” is.. you don’t have a degree or in-field practice…. https://t.co/HZVlVtiTAB pic.twitter.com/GydXlp7ZH1
— Zaria Oates (@ZARIAOATESTV) July 11, 2021
Are we supposed to feel bad lol https://t.co/1j1cBaWs1T
— Emma Primetime Weishaar (@weishaarems) July 11, 2021
The internet didn’t get you fired… Your stupid post got you fired, I’m sure you’ll financially recover from it, and another opportunity will open up either way for you so girl bye… https://t.co/JDHW3Yt2ph
— Heather🌺 (@_heather18love_) July 12, 2021
People also commented that the power of Twitter after Addison got fired.
LMFAO TWITTER DID ITS THING https://t.co/U9zEIOor9u
— alina (@linaasaleem) July 11, 2021
twitter is a powerful place 😌🥰✨ https://t.co/LVFhplFOsI
— Haley Dominique (@hc_dominique) July 11, 2021
You got ya self fired tryna flex on here. Twitter of all places, gotta know better. 😂 https://t.co/cxQgT7zXCk
— Chris Denney (@Chris_Denney_) July 11, 2021
💀 Twitter is a very powerful place https://t.co/kddO28nEuQ
— Smart Boy⚡️™ (@martinsthatguy) July 12, 2021
😂😂😂 welp, Twitter did their thing https://t.co/2W36a85dWk
— Andre Johnson, Jr. (@Andre247Now) July 10, 2021
Reports suggest Addison may not have been an official UFC hire, but instead did was only doing a single interview with fighter from her hometown for social media, according to Deadline.
