News Retired UFC fighter Tim Kennedy apologizes after admitting to lying about military accolade

[WoozyFailGuy]

Retired UFC fighter Tim Kennedy issued an apology after admitting that he lied about a specific military accolade he never actually received during his years of service.

A popular YouTube channel hosted by retired Green Beret Nathan Cornacchia posted a video where Kennedy claimed in an interview from 2017 that he won a Bronze Star with Valor after describing a scenario where he took down a “bad guy” during a conflict in one of his tours of duty. In the past, Kennedy stated that he never publicly claimed that he won a Bronze Star with Valor, which is a very specific military award handed out for “participation in acts of heroism involving conflict with an armed enemy.”

After Cornacchia posted the video, featuring the interview with Kennedy claiming he was given the Bronze Star with Valor and telling a story about what led to the award, the 45-year-old veteran issued a lengthy apology about misrepresenting himself and the awards he claimed during his military service.

“I want to take full and unequivocal responsibility for a serious mistake,” Kennedy wrote on Instagram. “Over the years, I made public statements and gave interviews in which I unintentionally misstated aspects of my military service. Most notably, I implied directly or indirectly that I had been awarded the Bronze Star with Valor. That is not true, and there is no excuse for it. I never received that honor, and I deeply regret ever suggesting otherwise. That kind of recognition is sacred. It represents extraordinary courage under fire acts that risk or cost lives. To those who truly earned it, and to their families and brothers-in-arms, I offer my sincere and direct apology. What I said disrespected your service, and I take full ownership of that.

“I was young when I stepped into the public eye, and while I wasn’t prepared for the scrutiny or pressure that came with it, that doesn’t absolve me. I should have known better. Integrity is not situational, and I failed to uphold the standards I claimed to represent. To the military and veteran community, especially those who’ve served in combat or lost people they love. I am deeply sorry. I know I’ve let many of you down. You had every right to expect more from me, and I didn’t live up to that.”

Rest of the article here

 

[Guy LeDouche]

Already a thread

 

[Romulas]

Retired UFC fighter Tim Kennedy issued an apology after admitting that he lied about a specific military accolade he never actually received during his years of service.

A popular YouTube channel hosted by retired Green Beret Nathan Cornacchia posted a video where Kennedy claimed in an interview from 2017 that he won a Bronze Star with Valor after describing a scenario where he took down a “bad guy” during a conflict in one of his tours of duty. In the past, Kennedy stated that he never publicly claimed that he won a Bronze Star with Valor, which is a very specific military award handed out for “participation in acts of heroism involving conflict with an armed enemy.”

After Cornacchia posted the video, featuring the interview with Kennedy claiming he was given the Bronze Star with Valor and telling a story about what led to the award, the 45-year-old veteran issued a lengthy apology about misrepresenting himself and the awards he claimed during his military service.

“I want to take full and unequivocal responsibility for a serious mistake,” Kennedy wrote on Instagram. “Over the years, I made public statements and gave interviews in which I unintentionally misstated aspects of my military service. Most notably, I implied directly or indirectly that I had been awarded the Bronze Star with Valor. That is not true, and there is no excuse for it. I never received that honor, and I deeply regret ever suggesting otherwise. That kind of recognition is sacred. It represents extraordinary courage under fire acts that risk or cost lives. To those who truly earned it, and to their families and brothers-in-arms, I offer my sincere and direct apology. What I said disrespected your service, and I take full ownership of that.

“I was young when I stepped into the public eye, and while I wasn’t prepared for the scrutiny or pressure that came with it, that doesn’t absolve me. I should have known better. Integrity is not situational, and I failed to uphold the standards I claimed to represent. To the military and veteran community, especially those who’ve served in combat or lost people they love. I am deeply sorry. I know I’ve let many of you down. You had every right to expect more from me, and I didn’t live up to that.”

Rest of the article here

My friend was a green beret during that time period and always went out of his way to speak poorly of Tim Kennedy when his name came up. He said Tim was full of himself and full of shit. My buddy was also an amateur mma fighter and kickboxer and went to Tim's gym briefly.

 

[Battlebot]

Well if the cross fits.

 

[Lee Danger]

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Already a thread

Yeah, got moved to War Room.

The TLDR is: this is just an empty PR-created apology for only one of his many lies, and he's putting it out because he's under investigation for his lying about pieces of his service/valor

 

[rorschach51]

 

[Fedorgasm]

How much verification does the military need before giving the awards?

Like I wonder if some dude was ever awarded when he's the only witness to his own bravery?

 

[Pechan]

Tim Kennedy full of shit?

This is some shocking stuff.

 

[188912345]

That's a seriously shitty thing to lie about and says a lot about his character.

 

[fandangler101]

Stolen valor!

 

[TheCryingElite]

“…i unintentionally indirectly implied that I was awarded something very specific…”.
What?
It’s almost like he’s also saying everyone that believed them, are also to blame lol.

 

[volcom5]

Never understood why people like Tim Kennedy, who already did something brave by fighting for his country after the events of 9/11, feel the need to create false about their time served. I guess he explained it well he was young but I thinks it’s more Natalia than that.

 

[Cletus Fertitta]

If he’d lie about that, given his military background, he’d lie about anything.

 

[Sixstring]

As a veteran I am surprised he didn't think he'd be called on it. Saying it in an interview too - stupid lie.

 

[fzoid4454]

Love the spin. "Mistake."

Originally liked the guy, but as time goes on, with his actions and when he opens his mouth, he keeps going downhill, as a supposed human being.

 

[DiazSlap]

As a veteran I am surprised he didn't think he'd be called on it. Saying it in an interview too - stupid lie.

Tim Kennedy…a hero in his own mind. Always seemed like a guy that would go Billy Zane Titanic if things went south.

 

[snugglecakes]

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

As a veteran I am surprised he didn't think he'd be called on it. Saying it in an interview too - stupid lie.

'200 gunfights in his first deployment.'
'Never once in all his deployments lost a guy.'
And yet
'Saw other servicemen dying to his left and right, being burned alive'
'Triple digit casualties to his name'
which includes multiple instances of
'women and children'
all despite his superior (during the convoy in question that he wrote his book about) sys that neither he, nor anyone else he asked, ever saw Tim fire his weapon

There's so much more that doesn't make sense, but when you lie about having a v device on bronze medal and a purple heart, then all the public stories are gonna get dragged up and this is barely scratching the surface

 

[Belaya Smert]

He was killing women and children with hand grenades while you were playing COD.
And he still can’t find Hitler.
Guy prob went to Argentina for stem cells. The kind that never get PTSD.