TapouT has released an official statement after losing their co-founder and friend, Charles Lewis, better known as "Mask." Here it is, via their official website:
"It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we must regretfully confirm the passing of our beloved friend, brother and co-founder Charles "Mask" Lewis following a car accident that occurred last night. We are currently in the process of setting up a memorial service in his honor and will release more details as they become available. Many thanks to all for the outpouring of blessings and well-wishing during this incredibly difficult time." – The TapouT Family
Once again, our condolences to his family and friends. Today MMA has lost a valued advocate and a patron. He will be missed.
Loading ...
Comments
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:12
Damn.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:12
sucks
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:12
rip
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:13
Crazy....
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:16
Mask you will be missed but never be forgotten.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:17
Charuto!! Charrruuuuto!! That's one thing that comes to mind when I think about Mask. Supporting the fighters, even ones scraping for a tiny piece of the MMA pie.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:17
damn he was a bad ass dude....Help out anyone.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:19
"come on cowbooyyyyyy"! my thoughts, and prayers, go out to his friends and family.......
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:19
I hope they make a shirt in memory. Not as a marketing ploy but it would only seem fitting that he lives on in the ink and cotton of his baby.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:22
As annoying as that guy could be he really did a great amount to make MMA marketable, accessible, and to bring it to where it deserves to be. Hopefully someone as driven and passionate will fill his clown shoes.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:24
I remember that episode. Great dude, he was always entertaining, and it is sad to see him go. My prayers are with his family and friends. RIP Mask.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:25
Wow.. now I feel bad about wishing death on him in the comments a few days ago. Oops. I always thought he was a toolbag and not that great for the sport with his rediculous costumes and stupid attitude but damn that's tragic. I would never really wish death on anyone so sorry for the dumb comment it's not so funny now.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:27
1 down...
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:30
real nice asshole!
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:40
Much Love Homeboy!! You will be missed!!
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:42
You know you live in a fucked up world when Charles "Mask" Lewis dies and TUF guy somehow is still alive. Maybe Darwin was full of shit.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:42
Damn, that's terrible.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:57
guess I'm a dick but I don't care at all
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:59
He was playing a risk game and he crapped out no one to blame but himself!! enough of this bleeding heart shit! Do you mourn every time a junkie OD's? you play with fire your gonna get burned!
Wed, 03/11/09 - 03:59
Honestly, I wish "Mask" could be in an MMA Hall of Fame for all his work for the sport. I know it is a UFC HOF, but if there was an MMA HOF, Mask would certainly be in it. Dana should make him an honorary member.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 04:05
Ya gambonis you can't talk baloni on a guy for monts and then come on 'ere sayen he'll be missed, ya mamalukes
Wed, 03/11/09 - 04:08
Although many people did'nt like him simply because of the way he looked, he has done a hell of a lot for mma. Anybody that will financially support fighters while they are not making a lot of money in order to give tham a chance to train full time and a chance to follow their dreams has done a great deal for the sport. RIP Mask and thanks to people like you the sport will continue to grow.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 04:18
my prayers are with his family
Wed, 03/11/09 - 04:21
I like these guys. Sure they have schtick but you can't deny their love and promotion of the sport. RIP.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 04:22
The thing that i remember most about Mask was his heart and his desire to provide an opportunity and a better life for fighters that had yet to make it big in the sport....that and his unmistakable laugh...RIP
Wed, 03/11/09 - 04:30
"Psychoooooo!, Ahhhhhahahaha! Psychoooooo!" RIP brother
Wed, 03/11/09 - 04:31
RIP Mask... MMA wouldn't and won't be the same without you
Wed, 03/11/09 - 04:33
Fucking Sad day indeed. I alwas like Tapout and Mask for his support of the new guys in MMA. Not to mention he was one funny guy too. There is a big hole in MMA now. My prayers are with you.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 04:40
Respect.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 04:42
A sad day indeed. Charles was a proponent of this sport way before it was "cool", before there was money in it and basically built that company for the love of the game. He will be missed.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 04:44
Anonymous posters make me sick. RIP Mask, advocate and patron.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 04:50
Maybe is he wasn't driving like an idiot this wouldn't have happened. High speed + carbon fiber car= instant death.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 05:00
so sad. he will be missed. the truth says Maybe is he wasn't driving like an idiot this wouldn't have happened. High speed + carbon fiber car= instant death. - that's an insensitive comment no matter how true it is. we all make mistakes. the tapout guys have done a lot for mma.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 05:00
never liked his personality, but yea he did a lot for marketing mma. rip
Wed, 03/11/09 - 05:11
I dont like the tapout t-shirt, just silly...and he painted his face like he was in a war...and he died like they do in the war.........so is war a good thing...nope USA killed sooo many in Vietnam and in Nort Korea, Japan, Afghanistan, and killed soooo many people in Iraq...so if one ugly person from The States dies...then who care...I dont care about 11/9 either. And be glad, no longer do you have the silly president Bush...by the way, we here in Europe, think that all person in USA are stupid.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 05:29
R.I.P
Wed, 03/11/09 - 05:29
sad
Wed, 03/11/09 - 05:32
Martin, Martin, Martin. Are you REALLY the spokesman for all of Europe? Really buddy? Seriously, take this shit over to Fox News where your anti-American douchebaggery will be more at home.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 05:38
R.I.P Mask
Wed, 03/11/09 - 05:39
@Beelzebuddy Hey dude dont feed the troll.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 06:13
if u see the pics of the ferrari he was driving, pretty much 1/3 of its left, its brutal RIP Mask
Wed, 03/11/09 - 06:22
may he rest in piece...
Wed, 03/11/09 - 06:22
" MrBlonde Says: Wed, 03/11/2009 - 15:42 You know you live in a fucked up world when Charles "Mask" Lewis dies and TUF guy somehow is still alive. Maybe Darwin was full of shit." No dude Darwin was right, survival of the fittest. That's mind and body. Mask was a dumbass, and he paid the price, and as we all know TUF GAY cannot drive, that is NOT how he will go, his future involves choking on a cock and dying in a gay bar with war machine.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 06:24
@ Anonymous 15:59 I agree, you play with fire your gonna get burned. I've been there a few times and it hasn't turned out that bad
Wed, 03/11/09 - 06:29
R.I.P. 2004 Ferrari 360 Modena I will miss that ride. Good thing I didnt kill any innocent people when racing under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 06:30
I also tried to get War Machine to ride with my instead of my girl, but I didnt want people to think I was gay when I died.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 06:41
@ Martin At least compose the sentences properly when attempting to point out someone's stupidity. RIP Mask
Wed, 03/11/09 - 06:43
Tapout may look like a bunch of idiots, but they move product and support fighters. I'm never going to own a tapout anything, but I can't event think of how many fighters I like who have been supported by Tapout. The only way to make something big is to find a way to make money off it - and these guys do that, in their own special way, and we all benefit, in the end.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 06:53
Our Hearts and prayers to the Lewis family and Tapout family from the Smith family in Manahawkin, New Jersey. A great man lost not only in the world of MMA but a man of family life. Time of rejoice and love to a man of heart and hard work. You will be dearly missed. To the Tapout Co. : One day at a time, laugh and rejoice in times of fun and bad that have pushed the company to where it is today. The company has not even reached the top yet. Keep pushing on with your dear friend in mind. Cheers to a great man. james
Wed, 03/11/09 - 07:14
Now if only Junie Browning was in the passenger seat we could of got rid of the two worst representatives of MMA in one wreck! Making crappy lame T-shirts and worse TV shows and perpetuating the image of MMArtists as a bunch of retarded clown cockfighters with no sense of self-respect, dignity, and honor while throwing up-and-coming fighters a few of the crumbs that fall off your table doesn't make you a hero in my book. It makes you a fucking leach. We need more GSPs, Anderson Silvas, Rich Franklins One less Jesse Taylor, War Machine, Jared Shaw...I'm all for it!
Wed, 03/11/09 - 07:33
truth2pwr I don't know how you could call mask a bad representatives and i don't think your opinion really matters about the t-shirts because i don't know how many people are wearing them worldwide now, so shut up ya queer, but ill agree with ya one less jesse taylor war machine n jared shaw
Wed, 03/11/09 - 07:39
My God I was just watching a documentary on the guy. RIP Mask what you did and what you accomplished will never be forgotten!
Wed, 03/11/09 - 07:45
How can you compare mask to them? You sound like war machine. People on here are fucking horrible.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 08:16
How incredibly sad to lose an avid supporter of MMA. The MMA world will never be the same without him. He loved what he did, and I loved his enthusiasm for the sport. RIP, Mask. It's a tremendous loss because he was so personable and turned a lot of people into fans. Prayers for his family. He will never be forgotten.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 08:21
Tonight i drink to the lost spirit of a true gentlemen of the sport. reality tv shows sometimes skew what is fact and fiction about a person... but the work he did will never be undone... honestly i didnt even "like" Mask... but the sport needs him, and i need the sport. so i suffer at our loss. Be fearless.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 08:24
truth - you are a fucking asshole i hope you die, seriously. you must be a new fan, because you have no idea how much charles lewis did for all the new fighters, all the old fighters...everyone. go fuck yourself. really. you are a piece of shit. really.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 08:41
r.i.p.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 08:41
too early. RIP
Wed, 03/11/09 - 09:43
This is a cryin shame. Mask helped shape the face of MMA in mainstream, beggining out of the back of his trunk. He supported his fighters and was on a personal level with them. I had the chance to hang with Mask a couple times, and he is a genuine, great guy. This is a tragedy.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 09:43
wRecked Into 2Pieces stupid worthless human destroys awesome car...sad day in the garage. EMO volkswagon drivers long to be near a REAL car.
Wed, 03/11/09 - 10:53
All you shit talkers have clearly done HALF as much for the sport, so obviously you guys really fucking matter and have ground for your big fucking mouths... wait.. you didn't.. what? You're just some MMA elitist, keyboard commando bitches? I hear antifreeze cocktails are great. Maybe you guys might like one. RIP Mask and thanks for what you've done, man. You'll be missed. Condolences to his family and friends and the Tapout crew.
Thu, 03/12/09 - 12:16
One less idiot in this world. Maybe there is a god after all...
Thu, 03/12/09 - 12:17
And Vykelt, go suck one homo.
Thu, 03/12/09 - 02:38
R.I.P.
Thu, 03/12/09 - 04:15
Does this mean tapout season 3 is canceled?
Thu, 03/12/09 - 04:56
R.I.P. You will be missed by many.... I am truly amazed at the complete dipshits on here. CP ban ALL these idiots!!! A man lost his life you dumbasses. Show a little bit of class and you may just feel a little better about your pathetic existences. What the hell have you accomplished that makes you any better?? Absolutely Nothing, but we already knew that by reading your stupid comments.
Thu, 03/12/09 - 05:11
dude actually cared about people, man. the world could use more people like him. RIP.
Thu, 03/12/09 - 05:56
Lol @ The Mask's Ghost
Thu, 03/12/09 - 07:16
CONFESSION: I have to announce that I probably caused this awful crash. I was ahead of them in my orange Yugo, doing 35mph in the passing lane. I saw them in my rear view mirror. As a conscientious motorist, I signalled and pulled into the slow lane. Apparently, I cut off Mask in his Ferrari, and he went into the tree. I would have backed up to render aid, but I was already late bringing home milk to my mommy. I promise to stay in the right hand lane from now on.
Thu, 03/12/09 - 07:53
R.I.P Punkass
Thu, 03/12/09 - 08:10
on a personal level, Mask was and will always be a douche in my eyes, reguardless of the amazing greatness he helped create for the MMA sport. But all BS aside, a man who had an important cause in this world has passed away, and thats what the bigger picture is IMO. on a side note: And to think, 2 more months and Mask wouldda got his braces off, fuck.
Thu, 03/12/09 - 08:27
All you guys on here disrespecting this man are truly pieces of shit. Heaping, steaming, stinking pieces of shit. Rest in Peace Charles, and thank you for all you've done.
Thu, 03/12/09 - 08:39
man the guy was a beast RIP i love you mask and all supporters of mma. complete thought go out to TapouT crew and family
Thu, 03/12/09 - 08:47
couldnt agree more with dr. on a memorial shirt. i will take 2
Thu, 03/12/09 - 08:54
p-ass and scrape, keep your heads up, ignore the zeros putting up bs posts,and carry on the tapout legacy in masks honor.
Thu, 03/12/09 - 09:41
All you idiot Mask lovers.... my brother in law has a key to the morgue.... he will let you in to cornhole his corpse!! Now, line up and show your love!
Thu, 03/12/09 - 11:09
SUNNNNNNNSHIIIIIIIIIIINE!!!!!!! rip Mask.
Thu, 03/12/09 - 11:32
I had always imagined the tapout crew dying together in a coke-fueled "its not gay if they're your bros" type of sex frenzy.
Thu, 03/12/09 - 11:50
ask people at sherdog.com ....Savege knows that already... and you think you live in the land of the free, bullshit, lots of stupid rules. We do think people in the states are stupid, look you vote 4 times for a stupid Bush jr and Bush to president
Thu, 03/12/09 - 12:21
A human life remains of consequence not because of what we leave behind, but because we act and ispire others to action, inspiration and enjoyment!!!!! R.I.P MASK YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.....YOU INSPIRED MY CAREER MORE THAN YOU KNOW...IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO CALL YOU MY FRIEND....
Thu, 03/12/09 - 12:31
rip lost but not forgotten !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thu, 03/12/09 - 12:35
skull get a life homo and have some respect for the dead even if you didnt like the man grow up.
Thu, 03/12/09 - 06:43
skull.....next time you are at your moms house, would you get my slippers back? should be under the bed
Fri, 03/13/09 - 02:53
Mask, I've witnessed you from a far and found you to be an interesting Earthling. The unconscious Ego is relentless in its destruction and gets the better of every man that doesn't try to battle it. You have given a lot of positive energy to many young humans and for that, you will not be judged for the final 30 seconds of your time here on earth...
Fri, 03/13/09 - 06:44
bad mofo, ztb...... The fact that you adore and worship that idiot Mask is comical. Did he even know who you were? Doubtful. Will you morons remember his name in a week? Doubtful. I was one of the last people to see the dope alive, and I don't care, so why should you? There are infinitely more impressive and valuable people dying every day, so why aren't you crying for them, and defending THEIR memories? You two faced, simpleton hypocrites. I hate you. I would like to pound your faces into mush.
Fri, 03/13/09 - 04:19
truth2pwr you most not have any respect the man just died. he made a millon dollar company and made himself famous what have you done are you famous do you have a millon dollar company i dont think so sounds to me your just a jealous piece of shit maybe you will run into junie browning and he an kick your ass like you were in a car accident so do us all a favor you jealous piece of shit stop breathing your wasting all the good air asshole.
Fri, 03/13/09 - 04:27
skull your a stupid ass to moron im doubtful that you ever seen them maybe we can run into eachother so you can try and pound my face into mush but very doubtful
Fri, 03/13/09 - 04:33
skull you say your brother has a key to the morgue you must use it alot because sounds to me you no all about cornholeing you fag
Fri, 03/13/09 - 04:43
tom: What, are you ztb's big brother, gonna rush in and protect him? You idiot. Are you running around in some wanna be TapOut getup? Let me guess.... you wear an Apache head dress and a loin cloth, like your hero in that old band Village People, right? Worthless scum, go back to taking steroids, so you can be 140 lbs instead of your normal bodyweight of 120. Annonymous: Learn how to read, dimwit. I said my brother in law. And, I was just trying to be nice to all the retarded Mask fans, by letting them stuff their sausages into their idol. So much for trying to be nice. I will tell my brother in law to NOT let any of you in. You can just whack your meat onto a picture of the screwball. So there.
Sat, 03/14/09 - 09:05
hey, you big meany.... i like the village people
Sun, 03/15/09 - 02:10
Look, I really couldn't give a shit one way or another about Mask, but it is sad. He did die doing something completely stupid and illegal, all while putting innocent people in danger to prove that " My car fast!", so don't go overboard about what a great guy he was. Also, PLEASE stop with all the "ban these people" just because we don't agree with what you think are appropriate comments, it's called freedom of speech. Maybe some people don't have much sympathy for some rich ass who died doing something stupid when there are people dying every day due to abuse, cancer, AIDS, murder, lack of health insurance, etc. Also also, stop with the USA bashing. It cracks me up how people dislike the US except when it comes to our movies, celebs, music, clothes, food, technology, freedom, women, higher education, websites, ability to send help around the world when needed, etc. America... FUCK YEAH!
Sun, 03/15/09 - 08:21
Never met him, couldn't tell you what he was like, one way or the other, like most of you. The face paint and get-up. It's called branding yourself, which is very smart and helped catapult him and his business. How many of you can actually sit on here and say "how stupid he was for speeding" knowing full well if you were in a car like that on a long stretch of road at 1:00 am you wouldn't speed. Bottom line is this; speculating on him as a person is just plain stupid. The man deserves credit for being an intelligent business man and marketer. His death, very unfortunate. If somebody you love dies, it will suck for you, regardless of HOW they die!!
Sun, 03/15/09 - 08:32
Sorry. I meant "you would speed"
Mon, 03/16/09 - 07:48
The important thing, I think, isn't that Mask died. We all will die. It's the fact that he had a dream. He spent his life pursuing his dream with a passion that should inspire us all, those of us within the MMA world, and those without. If more of us pursued our dreams instead of settling for our present situation, I guaranty that there would be a lot more positivity in our world than now exists. Mask may have died, but while he was here, he truly lived.
Mon, 03/16/09 - 11:49
asshole brother brother n law the same fag boy your the one talking about getting guys in the ass fag get a life fag boy piece of shit
Mon, 03/16/09 - 12:04
no you fag first off brother-brother in law the same fag boy seconde not protecting anyone i just have respect unlike you third fagboy i dont take steroids we can get in the ring anytime you want fagboy you can find out who i really am your the one talking about getting guys in the ass and whacking meat fagboy maybe you and your brother ( o brother in law )sorry fagboy get the dead guys in the ass together retarded fagboys
Wed, 04/01/09 - 06:44
MASK, to the cock suckers who would dis a dead man, there is a place in hell for u, the man tried helping touch young fighters with 40 plus years expierience on life.
Wed, 04/01/09 - 08:12
As much as I LOVE this sport, "Mask" was an awesome contributor. He was a Jackass and a Great promoter.MMA and the world will miss him because of his ridiculousness.He didn't give a sh*t bout the idea that he looked like a crossover from the fruitlessness Pride.The most important thing was to bring that cornfed jackwad from No Where up to National permanence...Hated your face but LOVED what you brought to the rest of us...RIP Dude...Cheech
Wed, 04/01/09 - 09:52
Charles "Mask" Lewis was a great man, friend, and true innovator, supporter, and contributor to the sport of MMA. As someone else said, the sport lost someone great, and it won't be the same without him around. But rest assured, his legacy will live on, and TapouT will continue to find, support and promote up-and-coming MMA hopefuls. I can still hear him saying "Cowboy, Cowboy!!" My condolences to all who knew him.
Thu, 04/02/09 - 03:50
This isn't the time nor place for such comments but I'm confident that the feeling is mutual on this side of the globe for the likes of you. Are you aware you contradict yourself in your statement? Perhaps if you were a thinker that wouldn't be the case. Grief and loss of a loved one is painful regardless of who or where one is from, it is universal.
Thu, 04/02/09 - 07:13
Mask did a lot for the sport of MMA...I pray for comfort for his family & friends. I can't imagine how they feel!
Wed, 04/08/09 - 08:04
Piss on Europe, we should have finished you off when we had the chance ! Martin is probable also Gay I suspect, So you can blow me asshole ! R.I.P. MASK
Post a comment:
You must be logged in to post a comment.