Roberta Aguirre
In February 2022, American basketball player Brittney Griner was detained at a Russian airport after customs officials allegedly found vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. Griner, who played for the Phoenix Mercury, pleaded guilty to the charges but maintained that she had no intention of breaking the law. She was sentenced to nine years in prison and faced harsh conditions during her detainment. After months of negotiations, Griner was released in December 2022 as part of a prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia. However, her ordeal did not end there. In June 2023, Griner was confronted by a right-wing YouTube personality, Alex Stein, at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Stein, known for his provocative stunts, harassed Griner about her detainment in Russia and her subsequent return home. The incident sparked discussions about the safety of WNBA players and the need for increased security measures during travel.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Incident | June 11, 2023 |
| Location | Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport |
| People Involved | Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury teammates, Alex Stein, Vanessa Nygaard |
| Nature of Incident | Harassment, Staged Confrontation |
| Response | WNBA statement, Travel adjustments by Phoenix Mercury, Police involvement |
| Underlying Issue | Player Safety, Security Concerns |
| Related Events | Griner's detainment in Russia, Prisoner exchange |
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What You'll Learn
- Brittney Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges in Russia
- Griner was confronted by YouTuber Alex Stein at Dallas Airport
- Stein is a right-wing personality who has interrupted government meetings
- Griner's Phoenix Mercury teammates were also harassed by Stein
- Griner's security has been a concern since her return from Russia
Brittney Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges in Russia
On July 7, 2022, American basketball player Brittney Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges in a Russian court. Griner was detained at Sheremetyevo International Airport near Moscow on February 17, 2022, after Russian authorities claimed to have found vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. Hashish oil is a marijuana concentrate that is illegal in Russia. Griner was charged with large-scale transportation of drugs, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
In court, Griner admitted to bringing the cannabis products into Russia but maintained that she had no intention of breaking the law. She claimed that she was packing in a hurry and that the cartridges ended up in her bag accidentally. "I'd like to plead guilty, your honor. But there was no intent. I didn't want to break the law," Griner said, according to Reuters. She also requested time to prepare her testimony, which was scheduled for July 14.
Griner's guilty plea was likely a strategic decision, as the chances of acquittal in the Russian legal system are extremely low. By admitting her guilt, Griner may have hoped for a more lenient sentence. Additionally, it could be part of a diplomatic strategy to facilitate a prisoner swap and secure her release from Russia.
The case drew significant attention, with Griner's wife, Cherelle, expressing her concerns to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden reassured Cherelle that his administration was working to bring Griner home. On July 4, Griner wrote a letter to President Biden, pleading for help and expressing her fear of being trapped in a Russian prison forever.
Separately, in June 2023, Griner and her Phoenix Mercury teammates were harassed at a Dallas airport by a right-wing YouTube personality, Alex Stein, who confronted them about Griner's detainment in Russia and the subsequent prisoner exchange.
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Griner was confronted by YouTuber Alex Stein at Dallas Airport
In June 2023, YouTuber and right-wing personality Alex Stein confronted Brittney Griner and her Phoenix Mercury teammates at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Griner, a player for the Phoenix Mercury, was travelling with her teammates from Dallas to Indianapolis after playing back-to-back games against the Dallas Wings.
Stein, who filmed himself during the incident, approached Griner about her detainment in Russia and eventual release in a prisoner exchange involving Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. In a snippet of the video he shared, he can be heard saying, "Do you still want to boycott America, Brittney?" In response to the incident, the WNBA issued a statement calling Stein's actions "inappropriate and unfortunate."
Stein has gained notoriety for interrupting government meetings and confronting politicians. He has also been described as harassing women, including a 2022 incident where he sexually harassed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the steps of the US Capitol.
During the airport incident, Stein tried to push his way through Mercury security personnel to get to Griner. A security guard eventually pushed Stein against a wall, and Griner waited behind a gate until officers arrived. Airport officers were unable to locate Stein in the area, and he was not found to be a passenger on any flights at the airport. The Mercury team was later escorted to their gate and boarded their flight without further incident.
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Stein is a right-wing personality who has interrupted government meetings
In June 2023, right-wing YouTube personality and comedian Alex Stein confronted WNBA star Brittney Griner and her Phoenix Mercury teammates at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Stein recorded himself yelling at Griner as she walked through the concourse. He accosted Griner about her wrongful detainment in Russia and eventual prisoner exchange, asking, "Do you still want to boycott America, Brittney?" In response to a statement from the WNBA, Stein defended his actions, claiming that Griner "hates America."
Stein is known for disrupting local government meetings, both in person and virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has explained that his disruptions are a result of his frustration with the Dallas government's unresponsiveness. His tactics include rapping about various topics, such as vaccines and the Russo-Ukrainian War, at city council meetings. While some characterise his pranks as ""mostly harmless," others note that he uses them to gain access to larger right-wing platforms, where he spreads misinformation, transphobia, and conspiracy theories.
Stein has confronted politicians such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ted Cruz, Dan Crenshaw, Beto O'Rourke, Adam Kinzinger, and Eric Swalwell. He has also been escorted out of a Beto O'Rourke rally for screaming at the candidate and has accosted Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins on the street. Outside of government meetings, Stein has appeared on reality television shows, including ABC's The Glass House, where he was the first contestant voted off.
Stein grew up in Dallas, Texas, and attended Louisiana State University. After graduating, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a comedy career but later returned to Dallas, where he worked with his father selling used cars. Stein has described himself as a populist and a centrist, but his politics have been described as right-wing, far-right, and alt-right. He has criticised vaccine mandates, mask ordinances, and lockdowns, and he often refers to himself as "PrimeTime#99."
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Griner's Phoenix Mercury teammates were also harassed by Stein
On June 10, 2023, WNBA star Brittney Griner and her Phoenix Mercury teammates were subjected to harassment by right-wing YouTube personality Alex Stein at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Stein, a native of Dallas, is known for his confrontational style and has a history of interrupting government meetings and confronting politicians.
In a planned confrontation, Stein approached Griner and her teammates as they walked through the concourse, filming himself as he accosted Griner about her recent detainment in Russia and subsequent prisoner exchange. He shouted, "Do you still want to boycott America, Brittney?" and claimed that Griner "hates America," possibly alluding to her stance on the playing of the national anthem before WNBA games.
The incident caused significant distress to Griner's teammates, who felt unsafe and targeted. Mercury forward Brianna Turner took to Twitter to express her concerns, stating, "Player safety while traveling should be at the forefront... Our team nervously huddled in a corner unsure how to move about. We demand better." Her tweet received support from several current and former WNBA players, who emphasised the need for increased security for WNBA teams while travelling.
The WNBA issued a statement condemning Stein's actions as "inappropriate and unfortunate" and reaffirmed their commitment to player safety. They acknowledged that the incident highlighted the importance of charter travel and assigned security for all players. The Mercury also released a statement, emphasising their priority on the health and well-being of their players and staff and their commitment to ensuring player safety.
The incident drew widespread criticism, with many recognising Stein's intentions to incite disturbance and create a calculated confrontation. It prompted a response from law enforcement, who tackled and apprehended Stein. Griner's security team also intervened, separating Stein from the players. The incident underscores the challenges faced by public figures like Griner and the importance of ensuring their safety and well-being while travelling.
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Griner's security has been a concern since her return from Russia
Brittney Griner, the American basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury, has been at the centre of security concerns since her return from Russia. Griner was detained in Russia and pleaded guilty to bringing hashish oil into the country. She was eventually released in a prisoner exchange involving Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
In June 2023, Griner and her teammates were confronted by right-wing YouTube personality Alex Stein at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Stein, known for interrupting government meetings and confronting politicians, accosted Griner about her detainment in Russia and the subsequent prisoner exchange. He also made comments about Griner allegedly boycotting America and "hating America", possibly referring to her stance on the playing of the national anthem before WNBA games.
The incident caused concern for Griner's safety, with her coach, Vanessa Nygaard, stating that the organisation would be "making [travel] adjustments that maybe should have happened before". Nygaard emphasised that the "safety of [their] players and [...] staff" was a priority. Griner's teammate, Brianna Turner, also took to Twitter to express her concerns about the safety of herself and her teammates while travelling.
In response to the incident, the WNBA issued a statement, calling Stein's actions "inappropriate and unfortunate" and affirming that the "safety of Brittney Griner and all WNBA players is our top priority". The league granted Griner permission to book charter flights, a measure that had been requested by the Mercury and WNBPA due to Griner's "special situation".
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Frequently asked questions
In June 2023, Griner and her Phoenix Mercury teammates were harassed by right-wing YouTube personality Alex Stein at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
Stein videoed himself as he accosted Griner about her detainment in Russia and eventual prisoner exchange. He also shouted at her and asked her why she hated America.
Griner did not respond to Stein and has not spoken publicly about the incident.
The WNBA issued a statement calling Stein's actions ''inappropriate and unfortunate" and said that the "safety of Brittney Griner and all WNBA players is our top priority". They also granted Griner permission to book her own charter flights.
Stein got physical with an airport security guard, but the guard declined to press charges. Stein was not located in the airport area by officers.
