UFC fighter Israel Adesanya has come under fire for taunting a teen who jumped from a ship into shark-infested waters.
Cameron Robbins, an 18-year-old Louisiana highschool graduate, jumped off the Blackbeard’s Revenge cruise ship off the coast of the Bahamas and was last seen on May 24.
Robbins reportedly jumped the ship and the seek for the missing teenager was suspended last week.
Adesanya, a two-time UFC middleweight champion, had an initial good response to the alleged tragedy.
“It is a joke, brother.” #Darwinism”, Adesanya he wrote Wednesday night in response to a tweet concerning the story.
Adesanya eventually sent out a more compassionate tweet early Thursday morning.
“Rattling… I hope they find him.” – Adesanya he wrote. “But still just sad, really.”
![– wrote UFC fighter Israel Adesanya](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000012056711.jpg?w=746)
![Cameron Robbins disappeared after jumping overboard a ship in the Bahamas.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000011800758-1.jpg?w=752)
![Cameron Robbins pictured in her grandmother's Facebook post.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000011829330-1.jpg?w=795)
![Cameron Robbins on his friend's Instagram.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000011990474-1.jpg?w=820)
![Cameron Robbins played baseball in high school in Louisiana.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000011830282-1.jpg?w=820)
Reactions to Adesanya’s first tweet ranged from mockery and agreement that it was a case of Darwinism to individuals who were upset that the UFC fighter took the tragedy so evenly.
“Rattling it, Izzy. Bad idea for a young guy, but surprised you care to mock him after he’s met his ultimate fate.” one user wrote.
“Very empathetic to his family, well done,” one other Twitter user admonished.
A 3rd user called for more lively parenting in an age of failed social media trends.
![UFC star Israel Adesanya at No Limit Fight Night in Australia on May 24, 2023.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000011653299.jpg?w=1024)
![Israel Adesanya (left) fights Alex Pereira (right) at UFC 287.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000009410384.jpg?w=1024)
“The reality is that we adults need to know how social media, especially TikTok, influences children to do things like this or worse for ‘likes’ or ‘go viral’. It is a serious issue that can only worsen until these platforms implement reasonable restrictions.” tweeted user with astroisla handle.
Robbins was celebrating his graduation from University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge and was on a seniors outing with teens from other schools who were staying on the Atlantis Paradise Island resort in Nassau.
While the Coast Guard claimed Robbins had gone overboard, witnesses told the WAFB that Robbins had jumped overboard for a “challenge”.
The Coast Guard said in a Saturday press release that it had searched 325 square miles of water before suspending the search.
Kevin George, principal of the University Lab School, spoke of Robbins, who played baseball in highschool, as an exemplary student.
“He’s an athlete… great smile, great hair,” George told WBRZ.
“He’s just one in every of the youngsters you are so happy with after they take the stage.”