Former UFC star Dustin Poirieris speaking candidly about the emotional struggles that led to his recent arrest, revealing that thoughts about his homeless father sent him into a downward spiral on Father’s Day. The retired fighter was arrested two weeks ago by the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia and charged with one count of public drunkenness. Police body camera footage from the incident reportedly showed Poirier provoking a police officer to fight and becoming confrontational with several airport employees.
Now, Poirier is opening up about the deeply personal issues that contributed to the incident, including his complicated relationship with his father and his ongoing mental health struggles following retirement.
Dustin Poirier Says His Father’s Alcoholism Has Devastated Their Family
During an appearance on “The Diary of a CEO,” Poirier reflected on his father’s long battle with alcoholism and the impact it has had on those closest to him. “He’s ruined his marriages, he’s ruined his relationships, he’s ruined his friendships, he’s ruined his relationship with his family, his kids,” Poirier said of his father.
The former UFC champion explained that while one of his siblings still maintains intermittent contact with their father, the damage done over the years has permanently fractured many family relationships.
“My little brother is off and on talking to him, but he has two kids who don’t speak to him at all and won’t,” the retired UFC fighter added. He’s been in jail plenty of times for alcohol-related stuff. If I could paint a picture of what you could think of classic drunk or alcoholic. (He’s) very selfish and continues to go back to it. He’s actually homeless right now.”
According to Poirier, he has repeatedly tried to help his father, only to watch him return to the same destructive cycle. “Part of that, me getting drunk at the airport,” he said. “And it’s not my weight to carry, but I tried to help him, and he’s back on the street. It’s like he almost doesn’t want help.”
Father’s Day Triggered The Emotional Spiral
Poirier admitted that Father’s Day proved especially difficult this year as he found himself overwhelmed by thoughts of his father while traveling. “On Father’s Day, I was traveling to work, and I just couldn’t stop thinking about my father,” he revealed. “And I started drinking at the airport, and that’s what led to the incident.”
The fighter went on to discuss how he has previously sought professional help to cope with similar emotions but acknowledged that he stepped away from the practices that once helped him manage his mental health. “I’ve been going to therapy and stuff like that,” he said. “Years ago, I started going to therapy and when I started feeling better, I stopped practicing everything I learned through therapy. Then I felt that feeling again. I guess you can call it depression.”
Poirier said he recognized the warning signs but ignored them, admitting, “I just didn’t feel well, and when I feel like that, I know I shouldn’t drink, and I drank anyway. Not that my father or anything is an excuse – obviously, I did what I did. But I knew better in the moment when I’m feeling like that to drink. Alcohol has never benefited me, especially in times like that where I’m mentally not the best.”
Poirier Refuses To Watch His Arrest Footage
While footage of the incident has circulated publicly, Poirier revealed that he has not watched the video and has no plans to do so. “To see myself in that condition, disrespecting police officers, disrespecting workers at the airport, disrespecting myself, disrespecting my family, I just don’t feel like it’s going to benefit me seeing that,” Poirier said.
Rather than reliving the incident through video clips and social media reactions, Poirier has chosen to distance himself from the online conversation entirely. “If anything, I think it’s going to bring me down. I’m going to keep thinking about it. Like I said, for the most part, understand what happened, know what happened, I don’t need to see it again,” he said. “I didn’t watch the video at all.”
Instead, he says his memories of the incident have gradually returned on their own, explaining, “Every day passing, I’m able to piece a little bit more together and make memories, kind of flashes of what happened or playing it in my head, but I got home, deleted all of my social media.”
The UFC veteran explained that removing himself from social media was an intentional decision aimed at protecting his mental health. “I posted that on social media, then I uninstalled social media on my phone so, I haven’t since the day after Father’s Day been on anything,” Poirier continued. “I know they’re making fun, I know they’re talking about me. Being a professional athlete for a long time, I know how this goes.”
The Arrest Has Already Cost Him Sponsors
Beyond the public embarrassment, Poirier says the incident has also had significant financial consequences. The former fighter revealed that at least one sponsor has already ended its relationship with him and that he expects additional business opportunities to disappear as the fallout continues.
“It’s kind of murky right now, it’s too fresh,” Poirier said. “One big one isn’t a sponsor anymore. I’m sure I’ve lost a few (sponsors). I’m waiting to see when the smoke clears who’s still with me or not.”
Dustin Poirier Faces Growing Consequences Following Public Drunkenness Arrest
Poirier acknowledged that the consequences of his actions extend far beyond his own reputation. “That day cost me not only embarrassment and embarrassment to my family, it cost me a lot of money, too,” he revealed. “I’m losing sponsors, I’m losing gigs, I’m losing things that I had set up.”
As he continues to navigate the aftermath of the arrest, Poirier appears focused on accountability, acknowledging that while his family struggles and emotional pain contributed to the situation, the decisions he made that day were ultimately his own.
The The Personal Struggle Dustin Poirier Says Led To His Airport Arrest first appeared on The Blast
