Duke cornerback Kimari Robinson has issued a public apology for swatting at an athletic trainer who was providing care to one of his teammates. The incident, which was broadcast and subsequently went viral, took place during the Blue Devils’ defeat against UNC on Saturday following a concerning injury to Duke safety DaShawn Stone.
Kimari Robinson issues apology
In a statement shared on social media, Robinson expressed regret for his actions and noted that he had already offered a private apology to the trainer following the game.
“I want to publicly apologize to the member of our training staff for how I acted toward her during Saturday’s game. I was completely wrong, and she did not deserve that,” Robinson said. “Immediately after the game, I apologized to her personally and checked to make sure she was okay.”
Kimari Robinson faces backlash for swatting away female staff member
Stone sustained an injury during the third quarter of Duke’s 24-20 defeat against UNC and remained in the game temporarily. Medical personnel brought a stretcher to the field for Stone. However, he managed to walk back to the locker room independently.
Prior to Stone’s departure, Robinson remained positioned near his injured teammate throughout the medical evaluation. When the trainer attempted to guide Robinson away from the situation, he forcefully pushed her arm aside. The video of this interaction circulated widely on Saturday, drawing considerable criticism from viewers regarding Robinson’s reaction.
Robinson and Stone’s bond
Robinson and Stone, both redshirt juniors in Duke’s secondary, have been part of the Blue Devils’ roster for four years together.
Duke’s defeat to its in-state rival followed a crucial interception by Tar Heels defensive back Kenton Dopson III, who picked off Blue Devils quarterback Walker Eget with just 19 seconds left on the clock, securing a four-point victory. The Blue Devils’ next challenge is an ACC conference matchup against UVA (4-3), scheduled for Friday, October 23 at 7 p.m. ET at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia.