Penick's Take
PENICK: Rampage Jackson's Tired Schtick on Display in Latest Asinine Stunt
Apr 6, 2012 - 11:30:12 AM PENICK: Rampage Jackson's Tired Schtick on Display in Latest Asinine Stunt

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson hit a new low this week, appearing in a ridiculous short video online for a website called FilmOn.com that must be intended to get the UFC to fire him.

The poor attempt at "comedy" sees the former UFC Champion showing people how to "pick up girls," which quickly turns into Jackson attempting a rape, only to be thwarted by a transgendered victim, which then makes Jackson skulk off in disgust.

Yes, it's as bad as it sounds.

"But he's just joking, you guys! Get it? He's 'picking up' girls in a ski-mask, all black clothes, zip ties, chloroform, and a pre-equipped condom. It's funny! Right? Oh, and isn't it even funnier when it's not actually a girl, but a transexual who says they'll rape him back? And of course it's just hilarious when he walks off muttering 'it was a dude,' right? You guys?"

This would have been a sickening short video had it been released by anyone, let alone with Jackson's participation. For starters, one of the most offensive things about the video is the fact that it's not the least bit funny. Skilled comedians can get away with tackling really awful material, but those capable of pulling that off are few and far between. And Jackson couldn't be further from that end of the spectrum.

A big problem here is that Jackson thinks he is. He thinks he's got an awesome sense of humor, when in reality he's shown himself to be an unfunny, mean-spirited, homophobic, and misogynistic bully. It would be one thing if this was the first time we've seen something like this, but it isn't. It's not uncommon for him to make tasteless, unfunny jokes at the expense of others, and it's certainly not uncommon for him to make an ass of himself.

From humping reporters in Japan, even more creepily humping reporters in the U.S., motorboating other female reporters, trying to be intimidating to other reporters, or making fans in Japan say humiliating things that they don't understand in English, he's done nothing to get a pass on a video that has no reason to be in existence.

Beyond the lack of comedic value to something like this is the UFC's previous bad press over rape jokes just in the last six months. Miguel Torres was released for a single Tweet last fall that was far from what Jackson took part in with this video.

With Jackson also bringing the issue of testosterone replacement therapy back into the forefront last month, then asking to simply be released by the UFC, this is another P.R. disaster that the organization likely doesn't want to deal with right now. If he's trying to get himself fired, he's certainly given them grounds for it, but I don't see them pulling that card right now.

As for me, I'm simply tired of the man himself. I have no desire to see anything he's involved in. I don't care if he gets another fight in the UFC, I don't care if he gets another movie role, I really don't care to see any of it. Just the simple fact that he thought something like this was even remotely alright is damning enough; but it's also an awful continuation of a pattern of behavior that seems to see him getting worse.

He's got one fight left on his UFC deal, at which point the UFC has said that they'll grant him his release. With the way he continues to carry himself, that may be something that can't come soon enough.


(If you've missed the video this week, it's embedded below)