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Guy Fieri Responds to Backlash Over Meeting Tate Brothers at UFC Event: ‘I Do Not Know’ Them ‘Nor Do I Support Them in Any Way’

Food Network star Guy Fieri, facing a social-media backlash over his friendly greeting of controversial “manosphere” influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate at a recent UFC fight, released a statement about the exchange — in which he claimed he doesn’t actually know them and does not support them “in any way.”

In video and photos shared on social media, the celebrity TV chef was seen embracing the brothers at UFC 327 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on Saturday, April 11 (a fight also attended by President Donald Trump). In one video clip posted by BroBible sports editor Jorge Alonso, Fieri is seen shaking hands with Andrew Tate and bumping shoulders as they greet each other.

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Fieri, in a post on X Tuesday, wrote: “I’m seeing all of your comments about the photo from Saturday’s UFC event and all I can say is that I’m devastated. I was there to see the fights and when I was walking through the venue, the Tate brothers stood up and said hello and that’s when the exchanged happened. I did not know them or about them before that moment.”

Fieri added: “I’ll never pretend to be a perfect person but let me be crystal clear, I do not know the Tate brothers nor do I support them in any way.”

Andrew and Tristan Tate are under criminal investigation in multiple countries, including in Britain, where the brothers are facing criminal charges of rape and trafficking, according to the New York Times.

Pictured above: Guy Fieri attends UFC 327 on April 11 in Miami.

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