AceShowbiz - More than a decade ago, in January 2013, former UFC champion and actress Ronda Rousey shared a conspiracy theory video on Twitter that questioned the facts behind the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. The tragic December 2012 massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, claimed the lives of 20 children and six staff members. The video suggested the event was staged, a lie that caused immense hurt to those grieving the loss of loved ones.

Rousey quickly realized her mistake and deleted the post, but the damage was done. Now 11 years later, she issued a lengthy social media apology, "I didn't even believe it, but was so horrified at the truth that I was grasping for an alternative fiction to cling to instead."

She claimed she made multiple attempts to draft an apology but they fell short, partly due to advice from her publisher, who feared that including such a statement in her memoir would overshadow everything else. As Rousey confessed, "But honestly I deserve to be hated, labeled, detested, resented and worse for it. I deserve to lose out on every opportunity; I should have been canceled, I would have deserved it. I still do."

While the post largely went unnoticed by the media at the time, allowing Rousey to avoid public backlash, the memory of her actions still lingered over the years. During an "Ask Me Anything" session on Reddit, those who noticed her brief blunder bombarded her with questions about her action and urged her to apologize publicly. This influx of inquiries finally convinced her that it was time to confront her mistake head-on.

Rousey's lengthy apology addressed the families affected by the Sandy Hook tragedy, expressing deep sorrow and regret. "I apologize that this came 11 years too late, but to those affected by the Sandy Hook massacre, from the bottom of my heart and depth of my soul I am so, so sorry for the hurt I caused," she wrote. "I can't even begin to imagine the pain you've endured and words cannot describe how thoroughly remorseful and ashamed I am of myself for contributing to it."

She also issued a stark warning to those who entertain conspiracy theories, "It doesn't make you edgy, or an independent thinker. You're not doing your due diligence entertaining every possibility by digesting these conspiracies. They will only make you feel powerless, afraid, miserable and isolated. You're doing nothing but hurting others and yourself."

Ronda Rousey's journey from Olympic bronze medallist to MMA and WWE champion, and now, a reflective and accountable public figure, serves as a potent reminder of the enduring responsibility we all bear for our actions, particularly in the digital age. Her story is a call to think critically, act responsibly, and, when necessary, seek redemption and make amends.