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TapouT founder Charles “Mask” Lewis killed in car crash


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Charles “Mask” Lewis, the founder of clothing line and MMA gear provider TapouT was killed last night in a car crash in Costa Mesa, California.

Mask is best known as one of the biggest personalities in the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) community, with TapouT being both a sponsor and gear provider. Mask also was a star in the Versus reality TV show “Tapout.”

Mask was killed while street racing his Ferrari against a Porsche. A female occupant of the Ferrari was thrown clear of the wreck, and is currently in a stable condition. Jeffrey David Kirby, the driver of the Porsche was arrested and charged with gross vehicular manslaughter and is being held on $1 million bail. Footage from the scene shows virtually nothing left of the Ferrari, only a small part of the rear of the vehicle. That anyone survived the crash in itself is a miracle.

Mask was one of the three founding members of the “TapouT Crew,” The brand launched in 1997 with the three selling t-shirts out of their cars at grassroots MMA events. The brand grew to be a multi-million dollar enterprise. Mask also trained with many MMA athletes, and his alter-ego was a fan favorite at events alongside his coverts “Skyscrape” and “Punkass.” The “TapouT” name has become synonymous with MMA.

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Comments


28 Archived Responses to “ TapouT founder Charles “Mask” Lewis killed in car crash ”

  1. What a dumbass? Grow up! Oops, sorry to late.

  2. Not to be an insensitive asshole, but people who street race deserve any and all consequences resulting from their actions. It's a terribly dangerous “sport”, many innocent people have died as a result of guys like this.

  3. Everyone deserves the consequences of misjudgment calls in his or her own life. I know that we all including yourself and our own family members have made decisions to do things that can cause harm or death to us. It's just sad that this accident is going to be the one that he had to pay the ultimate price for. Of course there will be keyboard warriors, and cyber thugs that leave comments like he sucks your gay who cares etc but the point is a tragedy is something that is not to be taken for granted regardless whose fault it is…

  4. killer instinct fight wear
    Mar 12, 2009

    fuck you guys show some respect mask was the man and a friend.id like to meet u and kick ur ass.people make mistakes im sure u have to.but noone deserves to die.go fuck yourself fags

  5. He was one of the most pivitol people in changing young lives. He was a positive influence, full of inspiration and passion. He was a friend to many, a son, a brother…a loved one. Let's all rise above and show compassion during this time of sorrow. If you have nothing supportive to say regarding this moment in time or the life of a beloved man……..keep your mouth shut.

  6. Even though this is a tragic loss he should've know better than to race. Street racing is as bad as driving drunk and I don't respect people who do either one. He may have been a positive influence to the young but actions like this can also influence the young into doing stuff like this. Just because you have a fast car doesn't mean you should race it in a densely populated area like SoCal. Take that shit to the desert. Too many lives will be put at risk racing in the city.

  7. fuck you asshole if that fuck would have killed my mom i would fucking murder his whole family and if u wanna kick my ass ill fly you out here and you can try!!!!!!!

  8. I hope and literally prayed last night for the loved ones left behind as well as for him. I love Tapout! I love you all! And we loved Mask, Charles Lewis. He was always willing to talk, take pics and sign autographs for us. RIP Our friend! You will be missed!!

  9. Street Racing or not, Nobody deserves to die, and anyone who says thats what they get, is seriously in need of some help.. Sreet Racing is wrong, but please remember A Good Man has passed away. If that was your son,brother,husband,or father I bet the response would be diffrent. It is a tragic loss, and the Las Vegas Fighting/MMA community is Seriously touched by this. We Love You ~~MASK~~ Rest In Peace Brother…..

    Paul F. Las Vegas, Nevda

  10. Rest In Peace Brother We Love You……… Paul F. Las Vegas, Nevada

  11. It's sad that this guy is dead. I hope the family is healing from their loss. I have to say, though, what a goofball this guy was. Was he a clown? Was he trying to be intimidating in face paint? He doesn't deserve to die but I think this 45-year-old was a fucking child. It's no wonder he died in a street race like a fucking 16-year-old. Disgrace.

  12. All I got to say to the comments below is that if no one person deserves to die for their actions, then where is the line that seperates good decisions from bad decisions and right from wrong and safe from dangerous. Look, I'm not saying that he deserved to die for his actions, but I think I am saying that there's one less person today acting like a fool that may kill me, my family members, my friends, (or one of you) or someone else who is responsible and follow, maybe not the exact definition of traffic-laws, but the guidelines between right and wrong.
    I don't know the guy and I think that even if you are the tightest fan, you don't either. My girlfriend claims that Oprah is the warmest and most kind people on earth, but I like to remind her that she does not personally know Oprah. Celebrities allow you to know what they want you to know in most cases (except Britney Spears LOL).. It's time to hold everyone accountable for their indescriminate acts of stupidity or carelessness, whatever the cause of this tragedy.
    My only question is why was the Porsche driver blamed for this accident when they were most likely both at fault (ie: they were both racing on our public streets)
    Just some thoughts to consider.

  13. what's your address tough guy

  14. we dont know the whole story yet so please stop jumping to conclusions..if he really did race, i think he pay the price but we dont have the right to say bad things about him like he deserve this shit…….just watch his video on there website i think u will get an idea on what he really is….www.inyaface.com

  15. man you guys are fucked up. You guys are also fags for thinking racing cars is gay. fuck you for talking bad to the dead. im positive id fuck both you pussys up just by the way you talk. o hows the weather in san fran lol

  16. Phimosis
    Mar 13, 2009

    I think it's irresponsible reporting to say they were street racing, even if it looks like it. A Newport Beach Police officer witnessed the wreck. He stated the cars were driving side by side, then the Ferrari veered off the road. It wasn't until they inspected the 1977 Porsche that they realized the cars collided. The officer didnt say high rate of speed or racing or anything like that. Jamboree (the road Lewis was on) is a 55 zone and people routinely do 70 on that road. Its 3 lanes in each direction and has a tree lined center divider. If you impacted a 6 inch wide steel pole at 70, it could easily cut the car in half.

  17. Godsucks
    Mar 13, 2009

    That guy was a tool he put other peoples lives in danger driving like that so he got what was coming to him i guess he tapouted out.

  18. Godsucks
    Mar 13, 2009

    tapout sucks and most of the people that watch it are gay

  19. Godsucks
    Mar 13, 2009

    was that what he looked before the wreck hahaha tapout sucks

  20. Godsucks
    Mar 13, 2009

    tapout sucks

  21. Copper1
    Mar 14, 2009

    Hey godsuck go suck your chode and if you dont know what that is go look it up fag. also if you think the people that like or watch Tapout are gay why dont you come and fight one of us HOMO…………

  22. David Pragley
    Mar 14, 2009

    Too bad, yea it was stupid and shows you anyone at anytime could die. Even more so if you push limits.
    But ALL you lame motherfuckers talking shit and disrespecting someone who helped so many, like Tapout or not. Mask was a good person. So FUCK you shit talkers and next time you lose someone close to you, that's just god paying you back for you stupid fucking comments and train of thought.

    SHAME ON YOU INTERNET TOUGH GUY MOTHER FUCKERS. You're all pussies and fat bitches anyways.

  23. you suck, and you're gay.

  24. All of you TAPOUT haters are lame. You can talk all the shit you want hiding behind your keyboards. Most of you are probably still living with mom, jacking off to internet porn behind locked doors, while your mom's getting pounded in the other room by the mailman. And Jon, don't worry, no one is killing your mom. She will be out on the corner making your rent money.
    For the rest of the pro TAPOUT folks (RIGHT ON) don't even waste your time on these illiterate inbreeds. They're just a bunch of dumb shits with nothing better to do than to talk shit after they've been feeling up their sisters all morning. LMAO Come on inbreeds, tell me that aint true….

    ~TAPOUT

  25. fitzwater
    Mar 15, 2009

    man your just pissed because you don't have a fast car and can't race and you need to grow up man that is just wrong what yo thank and i know it is wrong to do that on the street's but some people like to take that risk and it is a thrill to the people that don't die or get caught

  26. GOD RULZ
    Mar 26, 2009

    You SUCK!!!!

  27. hey man u just dont have nun better 2do u dont have a life,yo life is on a computer thats y u cant even leave atleast a nickname,im not gonna call u a bitch like i suppose2,oh yes i am n i bet u r gay 4real cause any man that says tapout or anything about mma is gay,u cant b a man. U r here cause u got ratings 4 your comment u evil bitch,ull tapout if u fight any1 u sissy