U.S. track and field star Sha’Carri Richardson publicly apologized to Christian Coleman after she was arrested at the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, last month for domestic violence.
“More than anything, definitely a lot of self reflection, a lot of understanding of not only putting myself in a compromising situation with somebody that I have a deep care and appreciation for as well, is something that — holding myself accountable,” Richardson said in a minute-plus video posted to her Instagram Story late Monday night. “I’m taking this time to not only see myself but get myself a certain level of help that overall is going to reflect who I truly am in my heart and in my spirit and not allowing this moment, but accepting this moment to be more.
“I apologize to Christian. He came into my life and gave me more than a relationship but a greater understanding of unconditional love from what I’ve experienced in my past. Due to past trauma and pain,” Richardson wrote on her Instagram story. “I was blind and blocked off to not only receive it but give it. I love him and to him I can’t apologize enough. My apologize (sic) should be just as loud as my actions honestly louder. To Christian I love you and I am so sorry.”
On Sunday, July 27, Richardson was arrested and booked into the Scott County jail for 4th-degree domestic assault. She was held for about 19 hours before being released. The arrest came after a heated dispute with her boyfriend turned physical, with surveillance video showing Richardson shoving Coleman several times.
Coleman, 29, did not press charges and “declined to be a victim,” per the AP.
“For me personally, I feel like it was a sucky situation all round,” Christian Coleman told reporters Sunday, at the U.S. Track and Field Championships. “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. But I’m the type of guy who’s in the business of extending grace, and mercy and love.”
He added, “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.’”
“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.”