The interesting thing to note here is that this response to Nakapan speaking out is to be completely expected. It is also likely the reason that Ryan Hall kept quiet initially when he left Lloyd. You'd have to ask him, but I would guess it was a major factor.
When you leave an environment that has the kind of shady practices talked about in the statement, it is tough to speak out against those because you were an integral part of those just a few moments ago. As such, the pressure is to just keep your mouth shut because no one will really believe you anyway. I don't think you will see any more of these revealing statements from former associates at this point. I think you will still see more distancing, but it will be done quietly out of fear of this happening.
The reason why I am inclined to believe Nak's account is that giving such a detailed account is really not self-serving at all. Disassociating from Lloyd, even confirming that you are completely disassociated -- that is self-interest. But going into detail like this is not because it invites the type of response that Lloyd has delivered. Everyone can see that coming. And releasing it anyway despite knowing what is coming takes some guts and selflessness.
The points about Nak having no logical reason to be intimidated by Lloyd are solid. They are valid. And in hindsight, they are obvious. They are also exactly the reason why it's difficult to speak out in that way. It is embarrassing to admit that as a grown man, you were intimidated by a dude like Lloyd Irvin. It's not like he is a senator or something; he really does not have any kind of power or real world influence outside of the insignificant sphere of BJJ whatsoever.
Even though I have never been associated with Lloyd whatsoever, I can relate to being intimidated and the embarrassment of that in hindsight. I kept quiet about the rape case for years partly out a belief that Lloyd had probably grown and changed as a person since, but also partly out of fear that speaking up would cause a shitstorm and make a lot of dangerous enemies. I knew that others could have spoken out too, yet they stayed quiet. It just seemed like self-preservation to be quiet and let someone else do it. And when I did speak out, TLI did try to shut me down initially by sending messages to guys I know asking why I was starting all this trouble, etc. Obviously the idea was to get them to put pressure on me to be quiet so this all could blow over.
Clearly it didn't work. And although I was worried for a while initially, once I actually got to look a lot of these guys dead in the eyes at a tournament, I realized that they are just regular people like me. They are just defending their master because it is all they know how to do at this point. If they are going to change, it is going to have to come from within, not by me. And how obvious that is now in hindsight, and how silly I feel for ever being intimidated in the first place. Yet I was for a while there.
So in some ways I can understand where Nak is coming from with his statement and how he must have felt writing it. It would have been a lot easier for him to just separate from Lloyd and stick to his original story. It would have been a lot easier for Ryan Hall to just stay quiet and not write that letter. This whole Nak/Callos/Ryan/whoever conspiracy theory is ridiculous. They have no business relationship. If anything, they are business competitors.
I can also understand why people are skeptical of Nakapan's letter. It is to be expected. It is also why I do not think you will be seeing any more of these letters anytime soon. I do not think people are really going to be receptive to them no matter who it is.
As a final note, it's sad to realize that the strategy being used here against Nak is just a preview of the strategy that is going to be used against the rape victim in a couple of months. Just wait and see.
