Duke cornerback Kimari Robinson apologized Sunday night after video showed him swatting away the arm of a female athletic trainer who approached to check on an injured teammate during Saturday’s 24-20 loss to North Carolina.
The incident happened in the third quarter after defensive back DaShawn Stone went down with an injury. Robinson, standing over his teammate as two training staff members attended to him, pushed away the hand of one trainer as she reached toward the player. Stone eventually walked off the field under his own power, though a stretcher had been brought out during the stoppage.
The Main Development
Robinson addressed the moment directly in a statement posted to X on Sunday night, two days after the game. “I was completely wrong, and she did not deserve that,” Robinson wrote. “The injured player on the ground, DaShawn Stone, is like family to me, and I was scared he might be seriously hurt.
But being worried about him does not excuse how I treated her. I should have controlled my emotions, and I didn’t. I’m truly sorry for my actions and for letting her, myself and our program down.
I have to be better than that.”
Robinson said he also apologized to the trainer in person after Saturday’s game concluded, and that he checked on her before issuing the public statement, according to ESPN.
What It Means
The clip spread quickly online and drew sharp reaction, including from former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III, who wrote, “As a man, this just can’t happen. No excuses for it,” according to Yahoo Sports. Robinson’s apology acknowledges that reaction directly, framing his concern for Stone as context rather than justification.
The fallout has split opinion. Some fans and commentators called for Robinson to be suspended, while others characterized the swat as an emotional reflex from a player worried about a close teammate, according to Sporting News. Neither Duke’s coaching staff nor its athletic department has issued a public statement on the matter or announced any disciplinary step tied to the incident.
Context
Robinson is a redshirt junior and a regular starter in Duke’s secondary. The sideline moment came during a tight ACC matchup that North Carolina won 24-20, dropping Duke to 4-2 on the season. Stone’s exact injury status beyond walking off under his own power has not been detailed.
The identity of the trainer involved has not been made public, and there is no indication she has filed any complaint or sought medical treatment connected to the exchange.
What’s Next
Duke has not announced any action regarding Robinson following his apology, and the program’s next game will determine whether he remains in the starting lineup after a 4-2 start to the season.
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