“Please don’t Brittney Griner me”: K'Lavon Chaisson recounts nightmare in Paris jail
Washington Commanders linebacker revealed how a trip to Paris Fashion Week took an unexpected turn
K'Lavon Chaisson has faced plenty of pressure during his NFL career, but nothing prepared the Washington Commanders linebacker for the uncertainty of being detained at a Paris airport while traveling to Fashion Week.
What should have been an enjoyable offseason trip to France became a frightening experience when immigration authorities stopped the former LSU standout over an issue with his travel documents.
Chaisson spent more than 14 hours in an airport holding facility, according to his account, with his phone and personal belongings confiscated while officials determined whether he would be permitted to enter the country.
The situation became particularly unsettling when he began thinking about Brittney Griner , the American basketball star whose detention in Russia in 2022 developed into an international diplomatic controversy.
Speaking with Marshall Kramsky, Chaisson admitted that the possibility of remaining detained overseas had left him deeply concerned, even though his circumstances were entirely different from Griner's .
"Personally, I was thinking it was Brittany Griner, bro. I was like, bro, please don't Brittney Griner me, bro. Oh my God," Chaisson recalled.
K'Lavon Chaisson reveals frightening details of Paris detention
Chaisson explained that he initially believed the passport problem would be resolved relatively quickly, allowing him to continue with his plans in the French capital.
Instead, the situation dragged on throughout the day as authorities held him and prevented him from communicating with the people accompanying him.
"They had me sitting in jail, like, the rest of the day," Chaisson told Kramsky .
"They took all my phone, everything, colognes, anything that could have been crazy; they took it. That was wild, bro, that was wild. I don't wish that on nobody."
His travel companions subsequently described their confusion in footage published through Chaisson's video channel, revealing how they attempted to establish his whereabouts.
According to their account, the detention began at approximately 9:45 a.m., with communication remaining disrupted until around midnight.
With Chaisson unavailable, the group returned to its accommodation, charged their phones and began contacting people who might be able to assist.
The linebacker eventually received permission to continue his trip, although he admitted authorities had seriously considered sending him back to the United States.
"They were literally legit going to send me back home," he said.
Why Brittney Griner's imprisonment left Chaisson fearing the worst
Chaisson's reference to Griner reflected his anxiety about being detained in another country, rather than any suggestion that the two incidents involved comparable allegations.
Griner was arrested in Russia in February 2022 after authorities discovered cannabis oil in her luggage. She was subsequently convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison.
The WNBA star spent nearly 10 months in Russian custody before returning to the United States through a prisoner exchange in December 2022.
Chaisson , meanwhile, was detained over a documentation issue and ultimately cleared without facing comparable criminal proceedings.
The 27-year-old has since returned to his football responsibilities, having joined Washington in March following a productive season with the New England Patriots.
He has registered 19 tackles and 3.5 sacks through seven appearances in 2026, establishing himself as a regular starter in the Commanders' defense.
Although Chaisson can now joke about the experience, his account demonstrates how quickly an ordinary international trip can become a stressful ordeal when travel documentation causes unexpected complications.
