Brittney Griner Tears Up Speaking On Suicidal Thoughts While In Russian Prison

Brittney Griner Tears Up While Speaking About Being Detained For 10 Months In Russia

Brittney Griner has finally decided to grant an interview to detail her Russian detainment for the first time. The new interview is schedule to air during a special edition of 20/20 on May 1.

Although Brittney has answered questions about her detainment before, the 33-year-old is yet to have an interview about the 10-month ordeal.

The ordeal began when the WNBA star was arrested for possessing vape cartridges containing cannabis oil at a Moscow airport in February 2022. In a new trailer making rounds online, Griner tearfully walks Good Morning America host Robin Roberts through her experience in the Russian prison.

 

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The basketball star describes what her life was like behind bars during the primetime special, from 20/20 and ABC News Studios. She also provides emotional insight into the conditions she faced while inside Russia’s infamous penal colony, conditions she describes as making her feel “less than a human.”

Brittney tells Roberts she dealt with suicidal thoughts, describing one harrowing moment where a knife was readily available to her. Griner tells Roberts her mattress in prison “had a huge blood stain on it” and that “I had no soap, no toilet paper.”

“That was the moment where I just felt less than a human,” the former WNBA Champion and nine-time All Star says.

“I was just so scared for everything,” she added at another point while discussing her nine-year prison sentence, wiping away tears as she recalls what she felt like when the sentence was handed down.