UFC Legend Lashes Out Against Bullies as Viral High School Incident Leaves Him Heartbroken

“We need to get the message out that bullying is not OK and will not be tolerated in our society,” said BJ Penn back in 2014 when he was invited by the UFC Gym to speak against harassment and bullying. His statement still stands today as the brutal bullying incident in Wahiawa, Hawaii, rocked him as well as social media. The former two-division UFC champion, long known for his anti-bullying stance, is once again using his voice to demand action after a disturbing video from a local high school shows not just harassment, but a violent threat to a student’s life—igniting outrage far beyond the islands.

Before witnessing the former lightweight and welterweight champion’s confession, let us take a closer look at what transpired between the students. A few days ago, a video began trending on social media. It showed a group of young students harassing and bullying another student. The video depicted several individuals bullying a 21-year-old female student, who was later unconscious after the group of people slapped and kicked her.

The victim was surrounded by at least four individuals. One of whom was recording the incident while another was slapping and beating her until she fell to the ground and lost consciousness. When the victim’s family learned about the incident, they rushed to her. A family member confirmed to Hawaii News that she is a student with special needs and a former student of Leilehua High School.

Sharing the video on his Instagram timeline, BJ Penn delivered a message to his audience, “Obviously, I wasn’t there and don’t know anything about this situation, but if this is, in fact, anything like what it looks like, then it breaks my heart so bad. All of my immediate family is gone.”

He further added, “I found out a few months ago that I have no biological children, but I am still locked into paying child support due to a fraudulent family court settlement. I’m fighting for my life, my family’s belongings, and some kind of peace in life. And I see Hawaii’s next generation ganging up on one girl who looks like she doesn’t want any problems. WHERE IS THE ALOHA, HAWAII? WHAT’S HAPPENING TO US?”

The exact date of the incident remains unclear, but the concerned authorities have already taken swift action against this sheer act of bullying, which occurred in broad daylight in a residential area. Let’s take a look at what has transpired since.

The aftermath of the viral high-school incident

As soon as the video went viral, it quickly incited anger among the students and families of Wahiawa. Some of the enraged individuals even took it upon themselves to track down the suspects. Moreover, they even livestreamed their search on social media. Interestingly, at one point, over 11,000 people were watching the livestream on Instagram. Last Wednesday, the Honolulu police confirmed that there had been some arrests surrounding the incident.

The police clarified that they have arrested three juveniles in connection with the attack. A 13-year-old boy and two girls, aged 14 and 16. In addition to that, another 18-year-old woman was also arrested by the police. All of them have been since released by the officials pending their investigation. The Leilehua High School administration released a statement saying that the incident occurred off-campus and that two of their students are cooperating with the police in the investigation.

Reacting to the news, the mother of one of the suspects has asked for forgiveness from the concerned family, “I just wanted to apologize to the family of the girl that got hurt in that video. And I didn’t mean for it to go this far. But I apologize for my children’s actions, and I hope that you guys can forgive my kids.”

The situation remains tense as police continue their investigation. As a Hawaiian, BJ Penn’s concern for his state is understandable. What are your thoughts on the incident? Share your opinion in the comments below.

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