prison swap

Brittney Griner Ditched Her Locs To Endure Winter Weather In Russia

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WNBA star Britney Griner is finally free after being arrested this past February and sent to a Russian labor camp. Now back in the states, many were shocked to find that the famed athlete no longer had locs and was instead sporting a low cut.

According to her lawyer, Maria Blagovolina, the decision to cut her hair was due to the cold weather in Russia. 

Per ESPN, the attorney shared that the Phoenix Mercury player shaved her hair weeks ago, saying, “It’s very cold in there and every time she washed her hair she got cold and would get a chill.”

“She should have waited until New Year’s Day,” Blagovolina added, also revealing that Griner was sick with the flu recently.

READ MORE: Trump Calls Brittney Griner Release “Unpatriotic” & “Stupid”

Griner was released this past Thursday (Dec. 8) after spending 10 months in custody overseas. The Houston native was sentenced to nine years behind bars after cannabis vape cartridges were found in her luggage while at an airport in Moscow. 

TOPSHOT – US Women National Basketball Association’s (WNBA) basketball player Brittney Griner, who was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport and later charged with illegal possession of cannabis, leaves the courtroom before the court’s final decision in Khimki outside Moscow, on August 4, 2022. – Russian prosecutors requested that US basketball star Brittney Griner be sentenced to nine and a half years in prison on drug smuggling charges. Her hearing comes with tensions soaring between Moscow and Washington over Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine that has sparked international condemnation and a litany of Western sanctions. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / POOL / AFP) (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Biden Administration successfully performed a prison swap, trading Griner for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Often referred to as the “Merchant of Death,” Bout was sentenced to 25 years in prison back in 2012.

Cherelle Griner, the basketball star’s wife, had been working to bring her back home for months. On Thursday morning, she was invited over to the White House where she met with Biden. The U.S. president then delivered the good news that her spouse was soon on her way back.

He also took to Twitter to announce the deal.

While on her flight back home, Griner appeared to be in good spirits, simply commenting, “I’m happy.”

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Brittney Griner Release Footage Surfaces Online

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Earlier today, Brittney Griner was officially released from a Russian prison. Griner had been stationed in a labor camp where she was going to serve nine years for drug possession. However, the United States government was able to negotiate a prisoner swap.

The man going back to Russia is notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is known as the merchant of death. He is a dangerous man, although he was the United States’ one shot at bringing home Griner. Additionally, the U.S. tried to free Paul Whelan, although Russia was unwilling.

Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury warms up before Game Five of the 2021 WNBA Playoffs semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 8, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Brittney Griner Meets Viktor Bout

Of course, there has been quite a lot of backlash online about the United States’ negotiation tactics. Many feel like the U.S. looks weak by allowing Bout to go back to Russia. One such person is former Trump administration higher-up John Bolton.

Bolton made a statement on Twitter, however, the bigger story was the footage that @chronology22 left as a reply. This footage was taken by Russian state media, and it depicts Griner signing her release forms. As you can see, her hair has been cut short, and she was all smiles while signing the release. Furthermore, we even saw footage of her on the tarmac in the UAE where she came face-to-face with Bout while heading to her final plane home.

This marks the end of an incredibly dark time in Griner’s life. For months, her family, the government, and the WNBA have been trying to bring her home. Now, she will finally get to be with her wife Cherelle again.

This remains a developing story, so stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest news and updates. Additionally, let us know what you think of this footage, in the comments below.

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