​In response to former interim lightweight titleholder Dustin Poirier’s admission that he grapples with depression, two-time middleweight champion Sean Strickland contends that male depression isn’t real. On June 21, Atlanta police were summoned to a disturbance at the airport involving Poirier. The Diamond was taken into custody after acting aggressively toward airport staff. Later, video footage surfaced showing a intoxicated Poirier threatening officers. He accepted responsibility for his actions but disclosed a prolonged struggle with depression and childhood trauma linked to growing up with an alcoholic father.
Strickland posted a video on social media reacting to Poirier’s confession and told the Louisiana native to “shut the f*** up.” “I know this is an unpopular opinion and you have others saying, like, ‘Oh, male depression is a real thing.’ Dude, no it’s not. No, it’s not,” Strickland said in the clip. “Especially if you’re successful and you’ve got a family and you’re rich. It’s not a thing, dude.” He added, “There are kids literally laying in bed dying of chemo right now that would do anything for one f—king more day on this planet, and you’re looking in the mirror saying, ‘Oh, I’m sad. I’m sad.’ Shut the f—k up!”
Strickland continued to share more posts and responded to several replies to reinforce his stance. He asserted that Poirier is not “allowed” to experience depression. In his remarks on X, Strickland wrote, “Dustin ‘Im depressed’ bro what? 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.” He further mused, “I just cannot understand depression There are kids dying of cancer going through chemo. They would give anything for one more day But you a grown ass rich man looks in the mirror and says I’m depressed. Tell me why you’re sad rich man? Lmao.”