Weeks after being detained by police at the airport in Atlanta, Dustin poirier He came forward publicly this Monday (6) for the first time to talk about the episode in an interview with Espaitec's 'The Diary of a CEO', presented by Steven Bartlett. As usual, the former interim lightweight champion (up to 70,3 kg) opened up about sensitive topics such as alcoholism and depression.
Diamante had already spoken out officially through an Instagram post. At the time, he highlighted how alcohol consumption had disrupted his father's life. With more space to express himself, he revealed the sad situation of his father, who is currently homeless.
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“If I were to describe the typical image of a drunk or alcoholic: (he is) very selfish and keeps relapsing into addiction. In fact, he’s homeless now. Part of the reason I got into trouble at the airport was that I simply felt—and it’s not a burden I should carry—that I tried to help him, but he ended up back on the streets. It’s as if he almost didn’t want help. And, on Father’s Day, I was traveling for work and couldn’t stop thinking about my father. I started drinking at the airport, and that’s more or less what led to the incident,” Poirier began.
Dustin poirier opened up about the airport incident for the first time
He says he started drinking while thinking about his father's current situation, has deleted social media since, and never wants to see the arrest footage
He also revealed he's already lost one major… pic.twitter.com/jJwzR76N1P
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 6, 2026
Subsequently, Poirier spoke openly about mental health issues. Despite having been in therapy for several years, the American confessed to neglecting this aspect of his life at times, leading to self-sabotaging situations.
“I started therapy years ago. And when I started feeling better, I stopped putting everything I learned in the sessions into practice. Then that feeling came back—I guess I'd call it depression; I just didn't feel well. And when I feel like that, I know I shouldn't drink, but I drink anyway.”
Poirier did not watch the video of the arrest.
Poirier has retired from MMA. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/dustinpoirier
Initially, the incident didn't seem to attract much attention from the MMA community. This changed drastically after a video captured by a police officer's body camera was released. In it, the former fighter can be seen insulting airport employees, using foul language and racist terms. He even went so far as to threaten to assault one of the officers. Amidst the situation, Dustin decided not to watch it.
“Even when my wife started playing the video and I heard it, she was watching it in another room. Besides, I have a friend I train with five days a week. Between him and my wife, I managed to piece things together and I know practically the full extent of what happened. Seeing myself in that situation—disrespecting a police officer, disrespecting airport staff, disrespecting myself, disrespecting my family… I just don’t think seeing it will do me any good. On the contrary, I think it will bring me down and make me keep thinking about it. As I said, for the most part, I understand what happened, I know what happened. I don’t need to see it again,” he concluded.
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