Andrew Wiltse has released a public apology to Craig Jones, explaining that past negative comments were the result of a manic episode.
In a recent video, Wiltse spoke directly to Jones and admitted regret for his behavior:
I am deeply apologetic and I am sorry, Craig, for everything I said.
It was me being manic and malicious and dealing with a lot, getting attacked from a lot of different angles.
You’ve always seemed like a nice guy and I genuinely regret saying anything negative about you.
Wiltse acknowledged that during this period he “lashed out at everybody and burned a lot of bridges”, influenced by personal and legal challenges.
He also extended an apology to Clay, a close friend, saying he was:
… Somebody I considered a very very good friend.
I am not a good friend and I feel guilty about that a lot all the time.
According to Wiltse, it was conversations with his brother Bird that helped him realize not everyone in the BJJ community was against him.
Bird told him that several people, including Jones, had reached out despite the past conflicts.
Wiltse also tied this apology to his plans for a fresh start in his career.
He spoke about the collapse of a previous gym partnership that left him feeling his “life was over” and the decision to delete his former YouTube and social media accounts.
Now, he says he is looking forward to building something new alongside his brother in Nebraska under the banner “Wiltse Brothers BJJ,” even announcing plans to award Bird a black belt when they reunite.
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