By Katrina Belcher (KatrinaBelcher@mmaratings.net)
Oh dear – it’s finally happened. Junie Brownie is making the news again, and it’s not good.
According to Lawrence Mower at the Las Vegas Review Journal, initially “Junie Browning, 24, was taken to the hospital by two friends after Browning took 16 pills of Klonopin, an anti-anxiety drug, in an attempt to harm himself, police stated in Browning’s arrest report.”
To refresh your memory, Junie Browning was one of the cast members 2 years ago on SpikeTV’s “The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir.” He made headlines every week with his antics in the house, rude and obnoxious behavior, and abuse of mind and body altering substances. Yeah – that Junie Browning.
To make matters worse, once he got to the hospital, Junie not only tried to leave, as angry young drug-riddled men often do in such circumstances, but he actually shoved a female nurse, punched a male nurse, and then kicked another male nurse at St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Siena campus, according to Henderson police.
“Do you know who I am? I will kill you and rape your family,” police said he yelled to nurses.
According to his arrest report, Junie now faces three counts of battery on a health care provider. He was booked at the Henderson Detention Center, where he was released today.
Released today? This kid has a history of over-the-top-violence and insane behavior, usually fueled by alcohol and as we’ve found out now, drugs. He tries to commit suicide by taking 16 pills of Klonopin, and they release him a day later? Does that even make any sense?
According to Wikipedia, Klonopin or “Clonazepam” is a highly potent anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant, and anxiolytic (antidepressant), often used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.
Junie Browning is troubled, to say the least. We knew it while watching him on the show. There’s no doubt he’s crying out for help now. Cliche to say, I know, but should we ignore his cries? If he was in a burning building, would you keep walking past if you heard him screaming out the window to save him?
Junie claimed he acted crazy and drank himself into oblivion while on the show, in order to garner more attention and subsequently more camera time, but I always thought he did it because he’s just simply a troubled kid who is also a substance abuser.
At the time, I suggested Dana White and the UFC get him some sort of help. I don’t think they listened to me, because as far as we know, they did nothing.
They’ve done nothing still, and to make matters worse, instead of helping Junie through this situation, offering him support, and finding him some help, what do they do? According to Yahoo! Sports, UFC president Dana White told them he terminated Browning’s contract immediately upon learning of the arrest. White was quoted as saying “He’s an adult. He’ll figure it out.”
I can’t believe this was Dana’s response! You fed his ego during the taping of TUF 8, even going so far as to let him get away with actions you wouldn’t tolerate from anyone else, all for the sake of ratings. In fact, in this video, Junie talks about how he was amazed watching himself on TV that Dana White did not kick him off of the show!
Yes, Junie is an adult and should be held accountable for his actions, but you didn’t make him accountable before, why are you making him start now?
I don’t know about you, but I’ve known a lot of adults, most of them a lot older than Junie Browning, who are never able to figure things out on their own.
I don’t think this is particularly funny – in fact, it’s pretty sad. Until now, he was the fighter who would always be remembered as the punk on TUF – Season 8 who could never drink enough, fight enough, or jump over the cage enough. Now he’ll just be remembered as the ex-UFC fighter who tried to kill himself. Fans and haters alike will ridicule him and bloggers will have their way with him.
Mr. White, this kid needs help. Why don’t you and the UFC step up to the ring as his employer and instead of kicking him to the gutter, at least try to get him into some sort of treatment program? A lot of companies are doing this for their employees nowadays. Why don’t you set an example and let Junie know that if he’s willing to fight, this time for his life, you’ll be there for him.
Also, please read this article by MMA Madness – they interviewed Junie Browning’s trainer, Josh Tompkins.
