Ari Lennox Doubles Down on hating Martins Jokes to Pam & Brown skin women's treatment in the industry. + Dana White Scores $7billion UFC Deal

Summary

Podcast Title: The Latest with Loren LoRosa
Host: Loren LaRosa
Episode Title: Ari Lennox Doubles Down on Hating Martin’s Jokes to Pam & Brown Skin Women's Treatment in the Industry + Dana White Scores $7 Billion UFC Deal
Release Date: August 12, 2025

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1. Introduction to Today's Topics

Loren LaRosa kicks off the episode by setting the stage for two major discussions: Dana White’s monumental deal with Paramount and CBS, and Ari Lennox’s outspoken stance on racial representation and humor in the entertainment industry.

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2. Dana White’s $7.7 Billion UFC Deal with Paramount

Overview of the Deal:
Dana White, the influential owner of the UFC, has secured a staggering $7.7 billion deal with Paramount. This agreement ensures that UFC content will be exclusively available on Paramount+, marking a significant shift in how MMA is consumed by fans.

Financial Breakdown:
The deal translates to approximately $1.1 billion per year over seven years, positioning UFC content as a cornerstone for Paramount’s streaming platform.

Strategic Implications:
Loren highlights the strategic timing of this deal amidst the broader media landscape changes, including President Trump’s merger with Skydance and the restructuring of traditional media outlets. She suggests that this move aligns with broader trends of media consolidation and the shaping of content distribution under current political influences.

Dana White’s Statement:
Dana White emphasized the accessibility of UFC content in his statement:

"The historic deal with Paramount and CBS is incredible for UFC fans and our athletes. For the first time ever, fans in the US will have access to all UFC content without a pay-per-view model, making it more affordable and accessible to view the greatest fights on a massive platform."
(Timestamp: 03:45)

Analysis:
Loren dissects the business acumen behind eliminating the pay-per-view model, making UFC more accessible and attractive to a broader audience. She praises the potential for increased advertising revenue and sustained viewer engagement through Paramount+ subscriptions.

Political Commentary:
Loren delves into the implications of Dana White’s close relationship with Donald Trump, suggesting that media control through such significant deals could influence public perception and cultural narratives. She references Malcolm X’s insight on media influence:

"If you control the minds of the media, you can control the people."
(Timestamp: 06:30)

Conclusion on UFC Deal:
Loren concludes that while the deal is a win for UFC and Paramount, it also reflects the larger trend of media entities aligning closely with political figures, potentially shaping the cultural landscape in ways that favor certain narratives.

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3. Ari Lennox’s Stance on Martin’s Jokes and Representation of Brown Skin Women

Introduction to the Issue:
Transitioning from the sports world to entertainment, Loren discusses Ari Lennox’s recent comments criticizing Martin Lawrence’s jokes directed at Pam in the popular TV show Martin. Ari Lennox articulates concerns about the portrayal and treatment of dark-skinned women in the industry.

Ari Lennox’s Statement:
Ari expresses her discomfort with Martin’s humor:

"Thing that pissed me off about Martin was how much he would go on Pam... I was just like always going on Pam, always. Like, that's all I remember. It just would piss me off."
(Timestamp: 08:09)

Loren’s Analysis:
Loren acknowledges Ari Lennox’s right to her perspective but offers a counterpoint. She suggests that Pam’s character was written to be sharp and witty, attributing her portrayal to the character’s strengths rather than solely racial undertones. Loren argues that the humor might not have been as effective if Pam had been a lighter-skinned character, yet believes the jokes were more about character dynamics than race.

Ari Lennox’s Continued Perspective:
Ari furthers her stance on accountability and authenticity in her interactions with Dreamville:

"I never was a fan of roasting... I will stand on business forever knowing the jokes was wild."
(Timestamp: 11:23)

Discussion on Industry Representation:
Loren expands the conversation to the broader issue of representation, particularly focusing on how dark-skinned women are often relegated to secondary roles with limited narrative importance. She draws parallels with other industries, noting that similar patterns restrict the depth and agency of women of color in media.

Public Reaction and Longevity of the Debate:
Loren points out the generational divide in responses to such criticisms, likening the backlash to arguments against remakes and changes in classic shows. She encourages listeners to engage in the conversation on social platforms, emphasizing the importance of public discourse in driving industry change.

Conclusion on Ari Lennox’s Comments:
Loren respects Ari Lennox’s courage to voice her opinions and underscores the need for ongoing conversations about race, representation, and respect in entertainment. She emphasizes that regardless of personal agreement, the dialogue initiated by Ari is crucial for progress.

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4. Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

Loren wraps up the episode by reflecting on the interconnectedness of media deals and representation issues, highlighting how financial decisions in major companies can influence cultural narratives and societal perceptions. She thanks her listeners for tuning in and encourages them to stay engaged with the discussions shaping today's pop culture landscape.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Dana White’s Statement:

  "The historic deal with Paramount and CBS is incredible for UFC fans and our athletes."
  (03:45)

• Ari Lennox on Martin’s Jokes:

  "I was just like always going on Pam, always. Like, that's all I remember. It just would piss me off."
  (08:09)

• Ari Lennox on Accountability:

  "I will stand on business forever knowing the jokes was wild."
  (11:23)

• Loren’s Reflection on Opportunity:

  "Genius is evenly distributed. Opportunity is not."
  (15:31)

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Conclusion

This episode of The Latest with Loren LoRosa offers a deep dive into significant developments in both the sports and entertainment industries. By dissecting Dana White’s colossal UFC deal and Ari Lennox’s advocacy for better representation, Loren provides listeners with insightful analysis on how these events shape the broader cultural and media landscape.

Transcript

[Lauren LaRosa]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Bob Crawford]

I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History Hotline, a different type of podcast. You, the listener, ask the questions.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Did George Washington really cut down a cherry tree?

[Janae Cheekies]

Were JFK and Marilyn Monroe having an affair?

[Bob Crawford]

And I find the answers. I am so glad you asked me this question.

[Lauren LaRosa]

This is such a ridiculous story.

[Bob Crawford]

You can listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast guests.

[Agusto Papa]

What's up, guys? Welcome to the Agusto Papa podcast. The go to spot for everything Musica Mexicana. We're proud Mexican Americans who live and breathe this music. We started this podcast to share and discuss our views of musica Mexicana. Whether you like to vibe to Peso pluma, los Alas camacho, or P. Cornejo, when you get in feels, then this podcast is for you. Well, actually, Peso was supposed to be on Chinito's album. The song with Drake was supposed to be with Peso. Listen to Agusto Pa on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Maria Hinojosa]

When I became a journalist, I was the first Latina in the newsrooms where I worked. I'm Maria Hinojosa. I spent my career creating journalism that centers voices who have been historically sidelined. From the most pressing news stories to deep cultural explorations. Latino USA is journalism with heart. Listen to Latino usa, the longest running Latino news and culture show in the United States. Hear it on the IH Heart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Janae Cheekies]

Hey, guys, it's Janae, AKA Cheekies from Cheekies and Chill Podcast. And I'm bringing you an all new mini podcast series called Sincerely, Janae. Sure, I'm a singer, author, businesswoman and podcaster, but at the end of the day, I am human. And that's why I'm sharing my ups and downs with you in real time and on the go. Listen to chickies and chill on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I'm the homegirl that knows a little bit about everything and everybody.

[Agusto Papa]

You know, if you don't lie about that, right?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Lauren came in hot. Hey, y', all, what's up? It's Lauren LaRosa. And this is the latest with Lauren LaRosa. This is your daily dig on all things pop culture, entertainment news, and all of the conversations that shake the room. Now let's get right on into the latest. Now, up first, this deal is a huge, huge deal, especially after President Trump cbs, Skydance, that whole merger that we talked about. So Dana White, who was the owner of the ufc, a huge name in television, huge name in the wrestling fighting world, has just announced that he has struck a deal for $7.7 billion with Paramount. Now, this deal makes it where a lot of the MMA content that you guys watch will be on Paramount. Plus. Well, first of all, let me break down the deal. So it's $7.7 billion is $1.1 billion per year over a seven year situation. Dana White also released a statement on this deal. We'll read the statement. But this is a crazy time for this deal, especially after Trump and the Skydance merger and, you know, all the things, the Late show, you know, being taken off of TV and you know, there's been rumors and, you know, Donald Trump has commented on Gayle King potentially losing her job allegedly because she's in murky waters because of ratings and money that is being allegedly lost and all the things, right. It's crazy to see Dana White, who is very much friends, out loud with Donald Trump, get this crazy deal. I mean, it makes sense. I mean, anybody that is in television, anybody that understands fighting and content, knows what Dana White has done for the sport. Literally taking UFC from something that people really didn't care to watch to making it something as interesting as, you know, the way that people watch a Floyd Mayweather on tv because he's grabbing up people who are entertaining, who are stars, who know how to play to a crowd, who come with an audience, all of that, all of those things. But you can't listen, you can't not call a spade a spade. The timing is pretty insane. It seems like if I'm looking from the outside, looking in, Donald Trump is building what he wants to see in his own TV network, which a lot of people have been saying is what we will begin to see from the news stations and the different media outlets that we'll see over there, where CBS and Paramount and Skydance and all these things used to be untapped, but in this new Trump administration, predictions are exactly what we're seeing happen. Certain things being taken away that are very radical, that are expressive, the opposite of Donald Trump and people who are in favor, who are friends, who are rubbing elbows with Donald Trump being put in position. And I'm not, look, I'm not mad at him. Do what you gotta do. To be honest with you. I think that if both sides of the coin, I think that if Democrats did the same thing, and a lot of times I think that you know, people are just prone to look out for people who they believe have their best interest at heart. But I do think that if Democrats were straightforward and loud enough and honest enough about doing the same thing, I think more people would have faith in what the Democratic Party is supposed to be and the fact that, you know, a lot of people would feel like this isn't such a takeover because that's honestly what we're watching in real time now. I told you guys that Dana White released a statement. I want to read the statement to you guys. He says, the historic deal with Paramount and CBS is incredible for UFC fans and our athletes. For the first time ever, fans in the US Will have access to all UFC content without a pay per view model, making it more affordable and accessible to view the greatest fights on a massive platform. Now, this is also just smart, business wise, because these UFC fights, these, these huge fighters and everything, you know how UFC has transformed thanks to Dana White and, you know, his team and everything that they've done over there, they build up such a huge fan base and huge ratings and people downloading and paying to watch via the pay per view wall. But now there is no pay per view wall. So you're able to bring over that audience. You're able to offer them this, this premium content that they've obviously, obviously they're interested in. Right, because they've been paying for it, but now it's going to be a part of various subscriptions and other things that they have. So you got your numbers. That means you'll be able to place advertisers. The formula is actually gold. Like, it makes so much sense. You can run ads, you know, throughout that content, that market, whatever you want to market. If you're a Trump administration planning what this merger, and you know, how media will be placed around this merger as well, I'm gonna be honest with y', all, like, you know, the quote goes, Malcolm X said, if you control the minds of the media, you can control the people. I don't know if you realize what's happening here, but we talked about it before here on the podcast. We talked about this on the latest. And again, I just wish that we were smart enough to do it ourselves. I wish that we had the balls to do what we are watching Donald Trump do. Now, again, y' all are probably like, lauren, this is just ufc. Yeah, I hear you. But if you have been paying attention to the close relationship that Dana White has with a Donald Trump, how he's been vocal in supporting him and supporting a lot of things that he's backing and he's standing on. You won't miss what I'm saying here. So I'm going to leave y' all to do y' all googles and figure it out. We'll see you on the other end when we're all watching watching UFC via Paramount and cbs and then hopefully we'll all catch up at the same time and it won't go over your head too much. Now, speaking of television, our girl Ari Lennox, you guys know we've talked about her a bit because Ari Lennox has decided that Martin and the jokes that were told on Martin are just not for her. Sadly enough, Ari Lennox is not a Stan of Martin whatsoever because she feels like the jokes that Martin used to throw at Pam. Basically, if Pam was not a dark skinned woman, the jokes would be a bit differently. Let's take a listen to Ari Lennox standing on business about some comments she made about Martin.

[Ari Lennox]

Thing that pissed me off about Martin was how, how much he would go on Pam. I'm not like too woke or something is what I'm trying to say. Like I'm. I'm honestly problematic. I'm pretty problematic. Low key. But my point is, is that there are some things where I draw the line and it just bother me or so beautiful and so fine. And I just feel like growing up as a chocolate girl. I don't even know if I was able to understand the greatness of Pam because of the light that I feel like I was being fed. I was just like always going on Pam, always. Like, that's all I remember. It just would piss me off. Like the, the joking on Pam. I just didn't like that.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Now here's the thing, right? To each his own. Do what you want to do, say what you want to say. Ari Lennox has, you know, been very vocal forever about how she feels about certain things, why she feels that way. To each his own. She has her own opinion and her own platform to do so. She also said in this live as well too at the end of it that she was going to come back and have a conversation with us about everything that went down between her and Dreamville. Now, the last time we heard from Ari Lennox on Dreamville, she was again online being very vocal and complaining about, you know, not being supported by her label and wanting out of her deal. Now here we are. I don't necessarily agree with Ari Lennox. Like, I understand the sentiment. I get what she's leaning into because I think there's always been a conversation about dark skinned Women being either the number two. So you're not the lead in a show, in a movie, you are the lead's friend. You play opposite the lead. So maybe you're a counterpart that doesn't get along with the lead. Your dialogue, your conversation, your narrative is not that much. We all know what she's leaning into here and we all know, you know, that that has been a conversation. You also have the same conversation with women who are bigger. Like, with, with bigger, like plus size models or actors or, you know, there's that whole thing. Monique has talked about that as well. I feeling like because she was, you know, the, the comedian that was bigger, her roles were set differently. She did have the Monique show though. Right. I just feel like in this situation is different. Like, I feel like even if Pam was as light skinned as Gina, anything biracial, whatever, we wanted to put, whatever we needed to put her as to make what Ari Lennox is saying not feel so like this could potentially be true because she's the dark skinned woman on the set. I still think the jokes would have flew. I think that that was the nature of the show. And to be honest with you, I don't even think that it was a color thing. I just think that Pam Tichina Arnold's character was a lot stronger at comedy. She was sharper, she was wittier, she could come back at him faster. And they built that. And I think in structuring that and finding a person to fit that role, she just happened to be the best, the best person for that. I don't agree here with the sentiments, but I do understand what she's trying to lean into. And I thought, I mean, look, I thought it was ballsy of her to get online to say this, to explain, express it, to then see the outrage and the backlash and, you know, all the, yo, that girl is crazy. She ain't got nothing going on. That's why she's sitting here having these conversations that came from this. And then stand on business again and say this.

[Ari Lennox]

If I had ill intent, I would have came on here with a PowerPoint presentation that backs my claims on the types of jokes Martin used on Pam being wildly offensive. That will never be my intent or motive, but I will stand on business forever knowing them jokes was wild. And I don't say any of this with any desire to rewrite history. Those actors and actresses are legends and I meant no harm to them. I don't need any army of people defending me or agreeing with me. That has always been a rare occurrence for me. But I feel amazing and knowing that I will validate myself and my feelings before I look to you for yours. I never was a fan of roasting, period, as I am a very sensitive, and I will for sure drag somebody to hell every time.

[Lauren LaRosa]

She let y' all know she don't have listen, she don't have nothing to lose in this. Ari Lennox is saying, I am happy with my life. I'm happy with what I have going on. This is just how I feel. And so what? If you don't agree, log off. I'm always here for a person that can stand on whatever business that it is that they choose to stand on. Now, whether I think it's true or not, no, I don't. I think it's absolutely insane. I think this is one of those things where, like, you know how you always hear the old heads, like the Uncs and everybody be like, back in my day, or see, that's like, y' all don't know nothing. Y' all need to leave certain things alone or we don't want remakes and, you know, things of that nature. When I listen to this conversation and Ari Lennox's remarks, I'm like, yo, this is what the old his be talking about. This is exactly why they don't want us to touch nothing, because we be done made. Martin so woke if we redid it. And to be honest with y', all, it's certain things I'm cool being asleep about. Martin is one of them. Y' all let me know how y' all feel. Take it outside in the streets and tweet. We outside. We outside. We outside outside in the tweet.

[Agusto Papa]

Every other page are gold.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Ari Lennox said, let me double back real quick and say something, because y' all ain't scaring me out of going or saying a damn thing. Let me know what y' all think. Is Ari Lennox up to something, or do she need to go back to sleep? She too woke. It's the Latest with Lauren LaRosa. I tell you guys every single episode that at the end of the day, there's always so much to talk about, and y' all could be anywhere with anybody talking about it, but y' all choose to be right here with me. I appreciate you guys for that, and I'll see you guys in my next episode.

[Bob Crawford]

I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History Hotline, a different type of podcast. You the listener, ask the questions.

[Maria Hinojosa]

Did George Washington really cut down a cherry tree?

[Janae Cheekies]

Were JFK and Marilyn Monroe having affair?

[Bob Crawford]

And I find the answers I'M so glad you asked me this question.

[Lauren LaRosa]

This is such a ridiculous story.

[Bob Crawford]

You can listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Maria Hinojosa]

When I became a journalist, I was the first Latina in the newsrooms where I worked. I'm Maria Hinojosa. I spent my career creating journalism that centers voices who have been historically sidelined. From the most pressing news stories to deep cultural explorations, Latino USA is journalism with heart. Listen to Latino usa, the longest running Latino news and culture show in the United States. Hear it on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Agusto Papa]

What's up guys? Welcome to the Agusto Papa podcast, the go to spot for everything Musica Mexicana. We're proud Mexican Americans who live and breathe this music. We started this podcast to share and discuss our views of Musica Mexic. Whether you like to vibe to Peso Pluma los alegres del Varanco Areel Camacho or Pur Ivan Cornejo, when you get it in feels, then this podcast is for you. Well, actually, Peso was supposed to be on Chinito's album. The song with Drake was supposed to be with Peso. Listen to Agusto Pa on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Will Lucas]

It's Black Business Month and black tech green money is tapping in. I'm Will Lucas spotlighting black founders, investors and innovators building the future one idea at a time. Let's talk legacy tech and generational wealth.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Had the skill and I had the talent. I didn't have the opportunity. Yeah, we all know, right? Genius is evenly distributed. Opportunity is not.

[Will Lucas]

To hear this and more on the power of black innovation and ownership, listen to Black Tech Green money from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lauren LaRosa]

This is an iHeart podcast.