B.J. Penn has made alarming claims about his family. The UFC Hall of Famer posted a video on Instagram alleging his mother father daughters and brother were murdered and replaced by imposters.
The July 22, 2025, post has raised concern about Penn’s mental health. He claims the government and others are plotting to steal his family’s wealth.
Conspiracy Claims and Legal Issues
In his video, Penn said:
“They took my mother out when she worked at the Department of Agriculture 15 years ago, then they took out my dad I don’t know when exactly and then first kid out (Aeva) when she was just a brand new born baby they replaced Aeva with another baby in a disguise, and then the second baby Kulia is not even mine she’s just in a disguise that looks like me. Then they poisoned Jd and his whole family and then they took by the time I noticed what was going on. It was just me, and I realized that they use the trees and they use tunnels. They have tunnels everywhere under everybody’s house but you piece of sh*t, murdering theives don’t ever forget when you fk with me, you fk with the best! Wherever you wanna take it, I will beat you in every single f**king area.”
Penn, 46, named his mother Lorraine Shin, father Jay Dee Penn Sr., daughters Aeva and Kulia, and brother Jay Dee Penn as victims. He believes they were targeted to seize his family’s assets.
His mother filed a restraining order against him in May 2025, citing psychological abuse. She thinks Penn suffers from Capgras syndrome, a condition where someone believes loved ones are imposters. Penn was arrested four times between May 25 and June 12, 2025, for abuse and violating the restraining order.
He plans to represent himself in court in August 2025 on charges of assault and violating the restraining order. Penn dismissed mental health concerns, saying on Instagram, “Mental health test my ass. You don’t have to be Albert Einstein to pass a mental health exam.”
B.J. Penn has a 16-14-2 MMA record. He joined the UFC in 2001, winning the lightweight title in 2004 by submitting Matt Hughes. He claimed the welterweight title in 2006 against Hughes.
Inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2015, Penn fought from featherweight to heavyweight. His last fight was a loss to Clay Guida at UFC 237 in May 2019, marking seven straight defeats.
A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Penn ran for Hawaii governor in 2022 but lost. He faced legal troubles, including DUI arrests in 2019 and 2021 and a 2019 bar brawl, leading to his UFC release in 2022.
Penn’s claims have caused worry. Many believe his behavior may come from brain trauma or mental health issues. His court date nears as concern for his well-being grows.
