Duke football star speaks out after swatting away female staffer

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A Duke football star who received backlash for treatment of a female staff member on the field has issued a public apology.

Kimari Robinson swatted the arm of a training staff member while she came over to check on an injured teammate, safety DaShawn Stone. The woman approached the other two training staff members and attempted to move Robinson out of the way to check on Stone by placing a hand on Robinson’s shoulder, at which point Robinson forcibly swiped at her arm.

North Carolina's Billy Edwards Jr. carries the ball as Duke's Kevin O'Connor and Kimari Robinson defend during a game. — North Carolina’s Billy Edwards Jr. (9) carries the ball as Duke’s Kevin O’Connor (15) and Kimari Robinson (5) defend during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. AP Photo/Ben McKeown

“I was completely wrong, and she did not deserve that,” the statement read. “…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 apologized to the staffer personally after the loss to North Carolina on Saturday.

This, @DukeFOOTBALL can’t happen. Check out the 7-9 second mark where the female athletic trainer tries to get the player hovering to move so she can help and he swings his arm at her. He needs to listen to her and know where he should be. If not where is the line? pic.twitter.com/o7VAg4fxlm

— Kevin Kelley (@coachkelley1) October 17, 2026

Robinson is a redshirt junior cornerback. He and Stone have been part of the Duke program for four seasons together.

Per reports, Stone walked off the field under his own power. There has been no further update on the nature or severity of his injury.

Duke has not addressed the incident and no discipline has been announced by the football program, and head coach Manny Diaz has not publicly commented.