Guy Fieri is trying to shut down the backlash after a quick greeting at a UFC event turned into a very public headache. The Food Network star found himself under fire after he was photographed and filmed shaking hands with Andrew and Tristan Tate at UFC 327 in Miami, a moment that quickly spread online and triggered sharp criticism. Fieri has now responded, saying he did not know who they were at the time and does not support them “in any way.”
Guy Fieri Says the UFC Encounter Was Brief
Fieri, 58, attended the April 11 fight at Kaseya Center in Miami, where President Donald Trump was also present. During the event, he was seen greeting Andrew Tate, 39, and Tristan Tate, 37, prompting a wave of angry reactions on social media from people upset to see the celebrity chef interacting with the controversial brothers.
On April 14, Fieri addressed the uproar directly in a statement posted to X. “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,” he wrote.
He then explained how the exchange happened. “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 said.
He ended with a blunt message aimed at critics and anyone questioning where he stands. “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.”
Fallout Grew Fast After the Photo Spread
The reaction did not stay online. Following Fieri’s statement, a media appearance tied to Waterloo Sparkling Water was canceled on April 14. He had been scheduled to attend an event on April 16 as part of his second year working with the brand.
The controversy around the Tate brothers has been building for years. Between them, they have nearly 15 million followers on X. Their posts and videos have drawn repeated criticism for sexist rhetoric, hate speech, and flashy displays of wealth.
Andrew Tate has faced especially strong backlash for comments about women and sexual violence. The brothers are currently facing a total of 21 criminal charges, including sexual assault and human trafficking, all of which they deny.
Their legal problems have stretched from Romania to the U.K. and now to the United States. They were arrested in Romania in December 2022, officially charged in June 2023, and later arrested again in March 2024 on a U.K. warrant tied to alleged sexual aggression. After travel restrictions were lifted, they arrived in Florida on February 27, 2025, where they became involved in an ongoing defamation case in Palm Beach Circuit Court.
For Fieri, what may have been a few seconds at a crowded arena has now become a reputational mess he clearly wants no part of.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
