There’s some major controversy surrounding former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn coming. A former writer for the fighter’s website is making some serious accusations.
BJ Penn’s retirement hasn’t exactly been a quiet one. Not long after hanging up the gloves, the former UFC champion found himself on the wrong side of the law, following an apparent parking lot scrap with a friend that saw him get a fresh mugshot. The issue was apparently resolved after Penn agreed to pay the man’s medical bills for injuries stemming from the fight.
Now, Penn has another public relations headache that might become something more serious. Former BJPenn.com website writer Pedro Alex Carrasco took to Twitter on Tuesday, February 16th to share a few choice pieces of information about his former employer. Carrasco who parted ways with the site back in October of last year has been relatively quiet on Twitter since leaving his post, but his recent messages leveled some heavy accusations:
I mean… pic.twitter.com/MvYDmnKWCT
— My name is Matt Roth (@MattRoth512) February 16, 2016
And he’s not the only one saying it. MMA photographer and videographer Cynthia Vance was apparently privy to the incident at the time and has corroborated Carrasco’s version of events:
@dvewlsh I was on the Big Island when all of this went down. Shit is fucked.
— Cynthia Vance (@cynthiavance) February 16, 2016
I stand with @LATLPEDRO. I never said anything before out of respect to him because that was his situation to deal with.
— Cynthia Vance (@cynthiavance) February 16, 2016
But the allegations are 100% true. I was working on the Big Island shooting a pilot for https://t.co/VcUdb3fTwu when all of this went down.
— Cynthia Vance (@cynthiavance) February 16, 2016
It was the most heartbreaking thing to witness… coming from Hawai’i where BJ is regarded as a hero.
— Cynthia Vance (@cynthiavance) February 16, 2016
Penn had been planning a return to MMA at UFC 197 after plans for a UFC 196 fight with Nik Lentz fell through. At this point, it’s unclear whether the UFC will be investigating these incidents or whether they might have any bearing on Penn’s eventual return, but Bloody Elbow will be sure to keep you updated with more information as it becomes available.
UPDATE: Vance has since clarified her original statements.
I just want to clarify that I can’t speak on what ‘exactly’ went down with the sexual assault.
— Cynthia Vance (@cynthiavance) February 17, 2016
Whatever Pedro is tweeting in that regard, is on him and his girlfriend, the one who got assaulted.
— Cynthia Vance (@cynthiavance) February 17, 2016
But I was staying with them for nearly a week. And I know what happened to me and what went down around me.
— Cynthia Vance (@cynthiavance) February 17, 2016
The whole shoot fell apart. I asked for the first ticket out of there and the show was cancelled.
— Cynthia Vance (@cynthiavance) February 17, 2016
I’m not here to slander. Just stating facts. There’s no aloha in how I and all involved in that shoot were treated during our stay.
— Cynthia Vance (@cynthiavance) February 17, 2016
Yes. Pedro has tweeted that only his girlfriend and BJ were present. Pedro and I were left in Waipio Valley. https://t.co/vdekKb7DH7
— Cynthia Vance (@cynthiavance) February 17, 2016
Pedro and I were left in Waipio Valley during all of this. It’s a dead-zone with no internet or cell service.
— Cynthia Vance (@cynthiavance) February 17, 2016
We learned of everything once we were able to get out of there.
— Cynthia Vance (@cynthiavance) February 17, 2016
UPDATE 2: Carrasco has since revealed that there is an investigation into these allegations underway.
Those clamoring for evidence will have to wait, there is an investigation pending with the authorities.I just couldn’t hold my tongue.
— Pedro Alex Carrasco (@LATLPEDRO) February 17, 2016