At 9:21 p.m. on Aug. 21, the X account belonging to the organizer of last weekend’s combat sports event at the Kia Center posted to the platform, calling a Black fighter a “chimp.”
“Duel Arena would like to apologize for ever having platformed this classless, disqualified chimp @PatrickClarkJr & will promise to do better by it’s [sic] fighters in the future,” Duel Arena’s post read.
The comparison of Black people to chimpanzees is a racist trope that dates back centuries.
“Black guy chimped out live on air, and got DQ’ed,” Duel Arena posted at another point during that fight, adding a laughing emoji.
Those two posts can no longer be found on Duel Arena’s X feed, but the account has not removed posts from the same night related to Paul Miller, known by his pseudonym “Gypsy Crusader.”
[RELATED: Nazi salutes, a swastika, and antisemitic insults: A night inside the Kia Center]
Miller, a convicted felon and avowed white supremacist, made antisemitic remarks and gave Nazi salutes following his kickboxing victory Saturday over Ben “King” Azoulay, who is Jewish.
News 6 reviewed videos of Miller’s comments and Nazi gestures, as well as videos showing a fan in the crowd unfurling a Nazi flag.
In a post on X responding to Azoulay’s comments bashing Miller, Duel Arena wrote, “your people have never lost with dignity, have they.”
The event at the Kia Center Saturday was Duel Arena’s debut card, launched by Duel, a crypto casino and sportsbook.
According to Duel’s website, the company operates under an Anjouan gaming license.
“Anjouan is an offshore jurisdiction outside the (European Economic Area),” the website states, adding that the “distinction can affect how winnings are treated for tax in your country.”
Orlando Venues, the city department that operates the Kia Center, did not sanction the fights and said both Monday and Tuesday that it was not in a position to refuse to rent to Duel.
“As operators of public venues, the city is bound by the First Amendment,” a spokesperson for Orlando Venues said in a statement Tuesday. “This means we cannot deny access because we disagree with the political ideology, opinion or perspective, regardless of the message.”
The spokesperson said, however, that the “legal reality does not soften our condemnation of what occurred.”
“Orlando Venues and the city of Orlando condemn all forms of hate speech, discrimination, antisemitism, racism, and any message that encourages hatred or violence against any person or group,” the statement said.
The department did say it remains committed to ensuring its facilities are “safe and inclusive,” and that it will continue to review its event policies to “uphold that commitment while respecting the Constitution.”
News 6 reached out to Orlando Venues again Wednesday to inquire about the possibility of an interview. A spokesperson said no one was available for an interview.
News 6 also messaged Ossi “Monarch” Ketola on Instagram. Ketola, a Finnish entrepreneur, is believed to be the owner of Duel. He did not respond to our requests for comment at the time of publication.
On Wednesday afternoon, News 6 also heard from Kia, the vehicle manufacturer that lends its name to the facility in Orlando:
“As Kia America is the naming rights partner of the Kia Center, we are not involved in its operations or security protocols. However, we appreciate the prompt action taken by venue personnel to address the situation. Such behaviors are in stark contrast to the values of respect and dignity that we, and our employees, fully support and promote.”
Kia Spokesperson