Sha’Carri Richardson’s boyfriend Christian Coleman recently opened up about the Olympic track and field star’s domestic violence arrest on July 27, saying that he didn’t feel like she should have been arrested.
Per the New York Post, the incident happened at the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport. Coleman, who is also a sprinter, touched on the issue during an interview with Citius Mag at the 2025 USATF Outdoor Championships.
“For me personally, I feel like it was a sucky situation all round,” Coleman said. “I don’t feel like she should have been arrested. I mean people have discussions and emotions and stuff like that. She has things that she needs to work on for herself, of course. So do I, so do you, so does everybody.”
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“But I’m the type of guy who’s in the business of extending grace, and mercy and love. I hate the narrative too… its so negative. In the state of Seattle, even talking to the cop to whatever, he was like, ‘There is really nothing I can do.’”
Richardson, 25, was arrested at the airport after the TSA informed police about a disturbance involving the couple, The Associated Press reported. An officer who checked footage of the incident noticed Richardson getting hold of Coleman’s backpack before pulling it. The 25-year-old is said to have also pushed her boyfriend to a wall.
READ ALSO: The interesting story behind Sha’Carri Richardson’s iconic nails
The officer also said that though Coleman, 29, attempted to pass around Richardson, she continued to position herself in front of him. The TSA said she additionally threw what appeared to be an earphone at Coleman.
“I understood… but she’s a great human being and a great person,” Coleman said. “We’ve been able to be a really good teammates all year. And I hate that narrative too because us coming together, we’re just two dominant personalities. And she is, to me, the greatest female athlete in the world. I see it everyday.
“… She just has a lot of things going on, a lot of emotions and forces going on inside of her that not only I can’t understand, but nobody can because she’s one of one. And I’m one of one too… She’s going to be just fine. I’m going to be good too. So, it is what it is.”
In the wake of the incident, Richardson was arrested and charged with fourth-degree domestic violence assault. She was ultimately released after 19 hours, the New York Post reported.
The Athletic also reported that Coleman opted not to press charges and “declined to be a victim.”
????️ “She’s a human being, and a great person… She has a lot of things going on, a lot of emotions and forces going on inside of her that not only I can’t understand, but nobody can. She’s one of one. And I’m one of one too.”
— CITIUS MAG (@CitiusMag) August 4, 2025
Christian Coleman shares about Sha’Carri Richardson’s… pic.twitter.com/kxaZHVhh8C
