Dustin Poirier says Bud Light cut him loose after airport arrest
The retired UFC star told Ariel Helwani the beer brand ended his sponsorship after his public drunkenness arrest in Atlanta.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
Dustin Poirier says Bud Light ended his sponsorship deal right after his June arrest at Atlanta’s airport, cutting off what he described as a six-figure payday still left on the contract.
The retired UFC fighter discussed the split Tuesday in an interview with Ariel Helwani. Poirier said the beer company moved fast after the incident, telling Helwani: “They terminated my contract immediately.”
Poirier added that he was not fighting the decision. “It’s all good, man. I don’t need that f---ing poison in my life,” he said in the interview.
He also said the lost money was significant for his family. Poirier told Helwani that “a few hundred thousand dollars” remained on the Bud Light deal, and said it was difficult knowing his family would miss out on it. Still, he said promoting alcohol no longer fit with where he is in his life.
The arrest that triggered the split
TMZ Sports reported that Poirier was arrested on Father’s Day at the airport in Atlanta on a public drunkenness charge. Body camera video from the arrest later spread online.
According to TMZ Sports, the footage showed Poirier speaking aggressively to a responding officer. TMZ reported that Poirier told the officer he wanted to fight him and used profanity and a racial slur during the exchange.
Bud Light had already appeared to distance itself from Poirier before he confirmed the contract was over. TMZ reported that the brand removed him from its advertising after the arrest and re-edited a commercial featuring Poirier and veteran UFC announcer Bruce Buffer.
At that point, it had not been clear publicly whether Bud Light had ended the business relationship or only pulled back on the ad campaign. Poirier’s comments to Helwani put the status of the deal plainly: he says he was dropped.
Bud Light’s response to Poirier’s comments was not reported by TMZ.
Poirier says he is treating it as a turning point
TMZ reported that the move has drawn criticism online from fans who objected to Bud Light cutting ties with Poirier. The outlet also noted that Poirier has spoken publicly about personal struggles since retiring last year.
Poirier framed the fallout as part of a larger change. According to TMZ, he said he is using the episode as a wake-up call and intends to stop drinking for good.
The Bud Light deal had placed Poirier in front of a mainstream audience beyond fight fans, including the ad with Buffer. Now, by Poirier’s telling, that partnership is over because of the airport incident and the attention that followed.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.