Former UFC fighter and Green Beret Tim Kennedy has publicly addressed accusations leveled against him by a podcast that scrutinized his military record and memoir, Scars and Stripes. The allegations, which include claims of embellishment and “stolen valor,” prompted Kennedy to respond in a detailed video titled Setting the Record Straight.

Kennedy’s Response to Allegations

Kennedy began by emphasizing the scrutiny that comes with being a public figure, acknowledging that criticism is expected but lamenting the personal nature of attacks from within his own military community.

“What you don’t expect is to have members of your own community rip apart painful stories that you’ve laid bare,” he said, adding that his book was vetted through legal and Department of Defense reviews. He also admitted that his recollections of events, many of which occurred over 16 years ago, might not be perfect, a point he noted in his memoir’s introduction.

The podcast in question alleged that Kennedy exaggerated certain events in his book for self-aggrandizement, an accusation Kennedy vehemently denies. He criticized the podcast for its commercial motives, highlighting that the episode discussing him featured advertisements for multiple sponsors. “They do financially better when they go after people with big followings,” he remarked.

Defense of His Record

Kennedy revealed that the podcast reached out to his former teammates in an attempt to gather incriminating information. According to him, the majority of his peers rebuffed the effort, affirming the authenticity of his stories. He maintained that these attacks were part of a broader strategy by the podcast to capitalize on the reputations of prominent figures, noting that other individuals like Marcus Luttrell and Jocko Willink had also been targeted.

Call for Reason

For his supporters, Kennedy asked for a balanced perspective. “Assess whether it is more likely that I fabricated all this stuff and all the people around me and DoD just went along with it, or whether someone went through the book in the least gracious way possible to profit off my name,” he implored.

Despite the controversy, Kennedy expressed gratitude for the support he’s received and reiterated his pride in his military service and the stories shared in his memoir.

Background

Kennedy’s book, originally titled Failure is Not Final, details his journey from a fiery young recruit to a decorated Green Beret and MMA fighter. He has been a vocal advocate for veterans, often using his platform to support military causes and training programs.

Moving Forward

As the dust settles, Kennedy remains focused on his work with organizations like Sheepdog Response, a training group aimed at empowering individuals with self-defense and emergency response skills. Whether the allegations will affect his public image remains to be seen, but Kennedy’s defiant tone suggests he’s not backing down.

“I will never be worthy of the support I’ve been given, but I will always appreciate it,” he concluded.