American mixed martial artist Bryce Mitchell announced that he will be home-schooling his infant son due to concerns about influences he deems negative.

“We’re going to have to home-school all our kids, or they’re all going to end up turning gay,” Mitchell, 29, stated in an Instagram video on Wednesday while holding his son, Tucker, who he said was born on March 29. “That’s the reason I’m going to home-school Tucker, because I don’t want him to be a communist. I don’t want him to worship Satan. I don’t want him to be gay.”

Mitchell, who has a 16-3 record in the UFC featherweight division and is known by the nickname “Thug Nasty,” made these controversial remarks shortly after advising his nearly 500,000 Instagram followers against vaccinating their children. He also criticized public schools for not incorporating the Bible into their curriculum.

“They took it out of the schools and replaced it with Edgar Allan Poe, who shacked up with his cousin,” said Mitchell, an Arkansas native who also works as a cattle farmer when not in the MMA cage. “My son isn’t going to be reading any Edgar Allan Poe, OK? He’s going to be reading the Bible.”

It remains unclear whether Mitchell — who has publicly expressed his belief that the Earth is flat — intends to personally home-school Tucker.

Mitchell’s Instagram video received mixed responses. Some fellow UFC fighters, such as former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who has also made public anti-LGBTQ remarks, showed support with prayer and American flag emojis. Welterweight star Jorge Masvidal commented, “God Bless.”

Conversely, other responses were critical of Mitchell’s homophobic comments and questioned his criticism of Edgar Allan Poe. One commenter remarked on Mitchell’s attire in the video, suggesting he should "put on pants before posting videos."

Neither the UFC nor Mitchell’s team, Barata MMA, immediately responded to requests for comment regarding his Instagram post.

Mitchell’s anti-gay remarks came just two weeks after Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made national headlines for a commencement speech at a Catholic college. In his speech, Butker encouraged women to be homemakers and criticized abortion, Covid-19 lockdown measures, and LGBTQ Pride Month.

The controversy surrounding Mitchell’s comments highlights the ongoing debate over LGBTQ rights and the role of education in shaping societal values. Many critics argue that Mitchell’s statements are not only homophobic but also reflect a broader issue of intolerance and misinformation. The debate over whether to include religious texts like the Bible in public school curricula is longstanding, with advocates arguing for the inclusion of diverse perspectives in education, while opponents raise concerns about the separation of church and state.

Mitchell’s views on vaccination also sparked significant backlash, as public health officials continue to emphasize the importance of vaccines in preventing disease outbreaks. The spread of anti-vaccination rhetoric has been linked to increased cases of preventable diseases, posing a serious public health risk.

In addition to his controversial remarks on education and vaccination, Mitchell’s belief in the flat Earth theory has further fueled criticism. The flat Earth theory, which has been debunked by scientists for centuries, is often cited as an example of the spread of pseudoscience and conspiracy theories in the internet age.

Mitchell’s position as a public figure and professional athlete amplifies the impact of his statements. With a substantial following on social media, his views can influence a wide audience. This influence comes with a responsibility to provide accurate information, and many feel that Mitchell’s remarks fall short in this regard.

The response from fellow UFC fighters like Sean Strickland and Jorge Masvidal reflects a division within the sports community on issues of LGBTQ rights and public health. While some athletes have used their platforms to advocate for inclusion and support for marginalized communities, others have faced criticism for perpetuating harmful stereotypes and misinformation.

As the conversation around Mitchell’s comments continues, it underscores the broader societal challenges of addressing homophobia, promoting accurate scientific information, and balancing diverse perspectives in education.