Duke cornerback apologizes for swatting away female staffer's arm in viral video from UNC loss

Duke cornerback Kimari Robinson apologized after going viral for smacking away the arm of a female staffer checking on an injured player during Duke's 24-20 loss to the University of North Carolina Tar Heels.

"I was completely wrong, and she did not deserve that," Robinson said in a statement posted to X.

The Blue Devils' medical staff was checking on safety, DaShawn Stone, who was on his back after being hurt midway through the third quarter. Robinson was also by his injured teammate.

A female staffer attempted to move Robinson out of the way to check on Stone, but Robinson swatted her arm away. Robinson then stood over Stone until head coach Manny Diaz and defensive coordinator Jonathan Patke went onto the field.

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? https://t.co/o7VAg4fxlm

Robinson said he apologized to the staffer for smacking her arm and said that he was scared Stone was seriously hurt.

"Being worried about him does not excuse how I treated her," Robinson said. "I should have controlled my emotions, and I didn't."

The clip went viral online, with many criticizing Robinson's actions.

"He needs to listen to her and know where she should be," said Kevin Kelley, who shared the video online. "If not, where's the line."

Former Heisman Trophy winner and FOX Sports analyst Robert Griffin III shared the video on his X page, saying there are "no excuses for it."

"As a man, this just can't happen," Griffin said.

Robinson is a redshirt junior and in his second season as the Blue Devils' starting cornerback.

"I'm truly sorry for my actions and for letting her, myself and our program down," Robinson said. "I have to be better than that."

WRAL News has reached out to Duke Athletics about the incident and how it would be handled. As of Sunday night, Duke has not responded. Diaz is expected to have his media availability on Monday.