Former UFC interim welterweight Colby Covington publicly defended Chicago Bulls guard Jaden Ivey after the team announced it would release the 24‑year‑old following a viral Instagram Live in which he preached from the Bible and criticized the NBA’s celebration of Pride Month. Covington called the Bulls a “disgusting organization,” framed Ivey’s comments as protected speech and accused the league of bowing to a “woke mob.”
Covington — a former NCAA Division I wrestler and one of the sport’s most outspoken fighters — made his remarks in a video clip shared on social media late March. “This is his God‑given right, his First Amendment right,” he said. “Bless Jaden Ivey’s soul. I appreciate him standing up against the ‘Woke Mob’… The only pride we should be celebrating in America is American pride.” He also invoked his faith, adding, “Christ is King and God bless Jaden for standing up and voicing his opinion.”
Ivey’s lengthy Instagram Live, which reportedly ran about 75 minutes, included religious teaching and criticism of the NBA’s observance of Pride Month. The Bulls issued a statement saying they were releasing Ivey for “conduct detrimental to the team” after the clip circulated online. Reports cited by outlets covering the episode say the Pride comments may have been the final trigger but were not the only concern: teammates and staff had allegedly grown uncomfortable with Ivey’s frequent preaching and with comments suggesting some players were “righteous” and others were not. According to those reports, Chicago chose to waive Ivey despite owing him the remainder of his season salary; he did not have a guaranteed contract beyond this season.
Not all commentary sided with Covington. Former No. 1 overall pick Kenyon Martin pointed out that the NBA’s Pride Month activities have been in place for a decade, noting the league formally began celebrating Pride in 2016. Martin said Ivey knew what the job entailed when he entered the league after being drafted in 2022 and questioned why Ivey would make public attacks now. Martin also referenced Ivey’s previous public comments about Golden State star Steph Curry — including accusing Curry of being a “fake Christian” — as examples of statements that heightened tensions.
The episode has sharpened debate over where teams draw the line between players’ freedom to express beliefs and maintaining a locker‑room culture that teammates and organizations deem inclusive and professional. Public reactions have been mixed: conservative commentators and some public figures have defended Ivey on free‑speech and religious‑liberty grounds, while many inside the NBA have been sparing with public defense of his remarks.
The situation underscores ongoing questions for leagues and franchises about player conduct, corporate messaging and the balance between individual expression and organizational values. With Ivey released and his immediate contractual future unclear, the controversy is likely to continue drawing attention as the NBA and its teams navigate responses to high‑profile social and political speech by players.