Former UFC champion B.J. Penn was ordered by a Hawaiian judge to vacate his home, where he lives with his 79-year-old mother, Lorraine Shin. This decision came during a court hearing on Tuesday. The judge also extended a protective order against Penn until November 23, 2023. As per the ruling, Penn must leave the residence immediately and maintain a distance of 1,000 yards from the house and 100 feet from his mother. Should the two find themselves in the same location, Penn must leave right away.
Penn's legal troubles began last month when he was arrested for the alleged abuse of a family or household member. Days later, he faced similar charges again. In that same week, “The Prodigy” was detained once more for failing to appear in court. Over recent months, Penn has exhibited concerning behavior, claiming that his family has been murdered and replaced by imposters seeking to steal his assets.
In a detailed statement, Lorraine Shin accused her son of “extreme psychological abuse” over several months. She stated that Penn has convinced himself that she is not really his mother, but rather an imposter who has assumed her identity. As part of her testimony, Shin outlined troubling incidents, including one on May 25, when she returned home from a trip. She accused Penn of obstructing her home surveillance by covering the cameras with duct tape and tampering with the deadbolt on her bedroom door.
Shin further reported a physical confrontation with Penn that escalated into a serious situation. According to her, as she attempted to call 911, Penn shone a flashlight in her face to disorient her. In her account, she described struggling to escape the light and ultimately grabbing the flashlight, which led to Penn grabbing her arms and shoving her against a vehicle. Desperate, she called for her son, Reagan Penn, who lives nearby. When Reagan arrived to help, Shin was able to contact authorities for assistance.
Shin expressed her concerns about her son's mental health, suggesting he might be suffering from Capgras delusional syndrome. This disorder causes individuals to believe that loved ones have been replaced by look-alikes. Shin noted that Penn believes she has taken over her mother’s identity to gain control of family assets. To protect herself, she requested a six-month temporary restraining order and urged the court to mandate that Penn get medical treatment or therapy.
B.J. Penn is a notable figure in mixed martial arts, having previously held titles in both the UFC lightweight and welterweight divisions. His accomplishments earned him a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame in 2015. However, since his last fight in May 2019, where he lost to Clay Guida by unanimous decision, Penn has faced numerous legal issues. In January 2021, he was apprehended on suspicion of Driving Under the Influence. Shocking footage emerged in June 2019 showing Penn in a physical altercation with a bouncer after being removed from a bar, and he was involved in another incident just two months later. Back in January 2015, Penn was arrested following an altercation at a Maui hotel.
