Here is truly bizarre story that may be require a grain or two of salt.

BJJ Competitor Travis Newaza is claiming that CEO and founder of Onnit Aubrey Marcus pressured him for a sexual relationship. Travis claims that once he declined, his pay for working at Onnit was drastically cut and that Aubrey Marcus blocked him from competing at the Eddie Bravo Invitational.

I really feel like we should treat these claims for what they are, accusations, albeit serious ones. I feel anytime someone asks you to join their “poly family” (Google that shit) in a Sedona, Arizona cult, you gotta pause for a second.

We reached out to Aubrey Marcus for a response. In our private messages, Aubrey seemed taken aback and shocked by the accusation. He calls Travis’s claims “a complete fiction”. He emphatically stated that “there is zero truth to what he’s saying”. Aubrey says he “reached out to [Travis], but didn’t hear back.”

Eddie Bravo already dismissed the idea that Aubrey Marcus has any influence in Newaza not competing in EBI.

Jason Havey, Onnit COO, has also been dismissing Newaza’s claims as well.

As much as I’d prefer to not editorialize on this type of story, I really feel the need to interject a bit of my opinion on this specific issue.

With all the real struggles for victims fighting against the abuse of power in the world of politics and entertainment, there can be a knee jerk reaction to find the accused party guilty upon accusation. In many cases, I can understand that reaction. But to do that in this case would be wrong in my opinion.

In my brief interactions with Aubrey Marcus, he seemed extremely genuine. I believe him when he says he reached out to Travis. I believe him when he says this blind sided him. And while I don’t want to diminish Travis Newaza’s claims, I do believe he should clarify them.

We reached out Travis Newaza as well, and as of yet, not heard from him. Middle Easy will keep you updated should more of this story unfold.

(h/t: Justin Golightly & KJ Gould)