Last week, former two-division UFC champion B.J. Penn faced serious legal troubles in Hawaii. On Tuesday, a judge ordered him to vacate the home he shares with his 79-year-old mother, Lorraine Shin. This ruling was part of a protective order extension to be in effect until November 23. This order was established after Shin filed a complaint against her son, citing claims of extreme psychological abuse.
Just two days after the court order, on Thursday, Penn was detained for violating that restraining order. His recent legal issues stemmed from an arrest last month for allegedly abusing a family member. This incident marked the first of two charges against him within just a few days. Notably, within the same week, Penn was again arrested for failure to appear in court.
Penn has expressed delusional beliefs, claiming that his family has been murdered and replaced by imposters trying to steal his assets. During a court appearance, he argued that his mother was not indeed his family and questioned why his case was being heard in family court, indicating his confusion regarding his circumstances.
Shin has raised concerns regarding Penn's mental health, specifically identifying symptoms of a condition known as Capgras delusional syndrome. This psychiatric disorder leads individuals to believe that people close to them have been replaced by identical imposters. In her statement, she explained, "I believe my son [B.J. Penn] is suffering from Capgras delusional syndrome. He believes I’m an imposter who has killed his family to gain control of the family assets."
In response to the court's actions, Shin sought a six-month temporary restraining order and requested that Penn be mandated to undergo medical treatment or therapy. Her push for treatment comes after observing troubling behavior and beliefs from her son.
On Sunday, Penn broke his silence through an Instagram post, casting doubt on the efficacy of mental health evaluations. He asserted, "Mental health test my ass. You don’t have to be Albert Einstein to pass a mental health exam. Just don’t say that you’re depressed or feel like committing suicide, and BOOM, you’re not crazy." This comment highlights his controversial stance on mental health assessments.
Once a dominant force in the UFC, holding both the lightweight and welterweight championships, B.J. Penn was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2015. His last fight took place in May 2019, where he lost to Clay Guida by unanimous decision. As Penn navigates his current challenges, his legacy as a fighter remains overshadowed by ongoing personal struggles.
