It’s not often Sean Strickland admits to being in the wrong. However, after some careful consideration and a personal talk, Strickland has apologised for his social media outburst to Dustin Poirier.
Despite enjoying a fruitful 28-year fight career, winning many accolades and becoming a beloved athlete with millions of fans around the world, Poirier hasn’t enjoyed the best times since retiring. The former interim UFC lightweight champion had been silently struggling with his mental health and alcohol intake over the past year, coming to a head during his viral altercation with a law enforcement officer and his subsequent arrest.
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The Louisiana native has since spoken out after the video surfaced online. Instead of diverting blame, he owned up to his mistakes and attributed his actions to a growing depression post-fighting career.
“I’ve had bouts with depression throughout my career. It hits me hard, and that day it hit me hard, man,” Poirier said during an appearance on The Diary of a CEO podcast. “It just feels like everything has its own gravity, and it’s going to pull me toward a negative no matter what it is.”
“A cloud in my head that I just can’t get out from under. It’s hard to explain to you unless you’ve been through it… And when it hits me, it’s bad. It’s bad.”
It was clear Dustin Poirier had been going through a tough time away from the cage, but Sean Strickland used the moment as an excuse to attack his fellow UFC veteran. Taking to social media with one of his regular controversial takes, Strickland insisted that anybody who has amassed fame throughout their lives and has a substantial amount of money in their bank account cannot suffer from depression, telling Poirier to shut the f*** up.
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“Dustin, ‘I’m depressed,’ bro what?” Strickland said in response to Poirier’s comments. “You’re rich and loved by thousands of people. You’re not allowed to be depressed. What you did is got kicked off a flight and tried to fight a cop. Relax it happens to the best of us.”
“I just cannot understand depression. There are kids dying of cancer going through chemo. They would give anything for one more day. But you as a grown ass rich man looks in the mirror and says I’m depressed.”
“Tell me why you’re sad rich man?”
The verbal onslaught continued, with Strickland labeling Poirier a selfish piece of sh*t.
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“Sounds like this guy is a selfish [piece of sh*t],” Strickland continued. “Go feed a bum or something. Yes, you shouldn’t complain about your life. Just a b*tch mentality.”
But after consideration and an apparent man-to-man chat, Sean Strickland has had a change of heart. The active UFC champion is convinced that Dustin Poirier truly regrets his actions, as opposed to just clearing his name following the backlash, and believes his brand shouldn’t be damaged over one mistake.
“I spoke to Dustin and he is legitimately messed up by his actions,” Strickland revealed. “I thought he was just doing PR clean up [to be honest]. I guess not everyone is a piece of sh*t like me.”
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“So yeah I repent and I am sorry Dustin… He deserves help.”
As he sits in a vulnerable position, news of Bud Light potentially dropping Poirier has rubbed Strickland the wrong way, who has hit out at the alcoholic beverage company over the abandonment rumors.
“Let me tell you if Bud Light drops Dustin I’m going to start drinking just to not drink Bud Light,” Strickland stated. “Bud Light you have a once in a life time opportunity to repent.”
