August 9, 2025

Ben Askren’s name is back in the news, but this time it is for a sad and surprising reason. While Ben, the former MMA star, was fighting for survival in the hospital, his wife Amy saw a fitness ad on Instagram that felt like a cold slap. The ad said, “You are just soft.” Talk about bad timing! Amy Askren opened up on Instagram Story about how this ad “plague me on Instagram” while she spent long hours in the hospital by Ben’s side. She asked her followers, “I think they know I sit in a hospital room all day. Has anyone tried this program!?” The ad came from fitness coach Vanja of MoveMethod, who has over 1.4 million followers. It showed a person lifting a kettlebell incorrectly, with knees straight and back bent, and the harsh caption “You are just soft.” While being fit is important, Amy felt this ad was deeply insensitive, especially at a time when her family needed care, not criticism. A little about the tough fight Ben Askren faced: The ex-UFC and ONE Championship champ, and 2008 Olympic wrestler, was hospitalized in June 2025 after a staph infection turned into deadly pneumonia. On June 30, he underwent a double lung transplant, which Amy called “the beginning of a new lifestyle.” Ben later shared an emotional update saying he has no memory from May 28 to July 2 because he “died four times,” with his heart stopping briefly each time. He lost over 50 pounds in just 45 days but is now slowly getting stronger. On July 23, Ben posted a heartfelt video from home after spending 59 tough days in the hospital. Even with the tough battle, help came from unexpected places. UFC boss Dana White quietly showed support, and YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul generously donated $500,000 for Ben’s transplant. But the attention also turned to Mark Zuckerberg’s platform, worth over $100 billion, which came under fire for showing such a harsh ad at the wrong moment. Many people called for better ad control and more care for people going through hard times like the Askren family. In this tale of pain, fight, and internet annoyances, the Askren family shows how real battles go beyond the ring and hospital walls.

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Tags: Ben askren, Amy askren, Fitness ad controversy, Staph infection, Lung transplant, Instagram ads,