Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion Gordon Ryan has dramatically changed his perspective on Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg following the tech leader’s recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, episode #2255.
Ryan, who initially thought Zuckerberg seemed like “a total as****e,” took to Instagram to share his reformed opinion after watching the podcast. The ADCC champion’s shift in perspective comes months after Zuckerberg had reached out to him for training assistance.
“What I see is a guy who is trying to change to world who is having far more responsibilities forced on him than he asked for, and he is simply trying his best through trial and error and not afraid to own his screw ups along the way,” Ryan wrote on his social media platform.
The 29-year-old BJJ star emphasized that the public should reconsider their stance on the Meta founder. “Everyone here knows I call things like I see them, regardless of if it’s good for my brand or my wallet. I’m not so sure Mark is the bad guy I and many others made him out to be. I think we should give him a chance and stop demonizing him.”
This isn’t the first time Ryan has spoken positively about Zuckerberg. Earlier last year, he praised the tech CEO’s dedication to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, particularly after Zuckerberg’s success in a 2023 BJJ tournament.
“Mark Zuck trains jiu-jitsu and competes. I never want to hear ‘I don’t have time’ again, you lazy f***s,” Ryan had posted, using Zuckerberg’s commitment as motivation for his followers.
During the podcast, Zuckerberg discussed the pressures of being a billionaire and the public’s expectations regarding social responsibility. According to Ryan’s interpretation, while Zuckerberg acknowledges the importance of using his resources for societal benefit, he also desires the freedom to pursue his personal interests without constant scrutiny.
