Dustin Poirier cites depression after Atlanta arrest

Retired UFC fighter Dustin Poirier has publicly addressed his arrest last month at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, offering a candid account of the personal struggles that led to the incident. Poirier was taken into custody on June 21, which was Father's Day, after being denied boarding on a Delta flight due to intoxication and subsequently threatening a police officer.

In a lengthy interview on "The Diary of a CEO" podcast, Poirier described the arrest as stemming from a difficult battle with depression, exacerbated by thoughts of his father. He revealed his father is a longtime alcoholic who is currently homeless, despite Poirier's attempts to help. The fighter said he was traveling for work on Father's Day and could not stop thinking about his father's situation, which led him to drink in the airport. He emphasized that his father's circumstances were context, not an excuse, and that he knew he should not have consumed alcohol while in that mental state.

Poirier was charged with misdemeanor public intoxication, released on bond within hours, and faces a potential penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine. Viral body camera footage from the arrest showed...