While many fans have rallied behind Dustin Poirier following his honesty about life after retirement, UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has taken a different view.
Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has spoken candidly about the fallout from his recent arrest, revealing the personal and financial consequences he has faced in the weeks since the incident.However, Strickland reacted to Poirier’s recent comments on social media, questioning his claims of depression and expressing little sympathy for the former UFC star.
“Dustin ‘I’m depressed’ bro what? You’re rich and loved by thousands of people. You’re not allowed to be depressed,” Strickland wrote.
“What you did is got kicked off a flight and tried to fight a cop, relax, it happens to the best of us.”
The middleweight champion continued his criticism in a follow-up post.
“I just cannot understand depression. There are kids dying of cancer going through chemo, they would give anything for one more day.”
“But you a grown a** rich man looking in the mirror and says I’m depressed. Tell me why you’re sad rich man? Lmao.”
Poirier was arrested at Atlanta’s airport on Father’s Day after being removed from a departing flight. The situation quickly gained widespread attention after bodycam footage surfaced online, showing the retired UFC star confronting police officers and attempting to challenge one of them during the arrest.
Shortly after the footage went viral, Dustin Poirier addressed the incident publicly and admitted that he had been struggling mentally since stepping away from professional fighting.
Appearing on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Dustin Poirier explained that the incident has already cost him several business opportunities and sponsorship deals.
Since retiring from competition, Poirier has remained active in the sport through media work and sponsorship partnerships. Earlier this year, he joined the UFC’s analyst team as part of the promotion’s partnership with Paramount.
However, Poirier said the airport incident has had significant repercussions.
“I have a bunch of sponsors,” Poirier said.“It’s kind of murky right now. I think it’s still too fresh. I know one big one isn’t a sponsor anymore. Oh yeah, I’m sure I lost a few. I’m waiting to see when the smoke clears who’s with me or not.”
“That day cost me not only embarrassment and embarrassment for my family, it cost me a lot of money too. I’m losing sponsors, I’m losing gigs, I’m losing things I had set up.The gigs I was supposed to do that week are gone, and a big sponsor of mine is gone because of it.”
Despite the controversy, Dustin Poirier said he appreciates the way law enforcement handled the situation and hopes to personally thank the officer involved.
The Louisiana native explained that he has already asked his attorney to help him contact the officer.
“I do want to apologize to those desk agents, whoever they are, and the police for having to put up with me,” Poirier said.“I actually did ask my lawyer in Atlanta, who I’ve been working with, if he can please give me that officer’s information, his address, if I can write him a letter or call him, just to tell him how great a job he did.It could’ve been so much worse.”
Although the incident has cost him financially and damaged his public image, Dustin Poirier appears determined to move forward, make amends where possible, and address the issues he says have affected him since leaving the sport.
