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Greg Evans
Dec 09, 2022
The Diplomatic Effort Behind The Swap Of Brittney Griner
content.jwplatform.com
Following the monumental news on Thursday that US basketball star Brittney Griner had been set free from Russia there was understandably a lot of emotion.
However, the internet being the internet appears to have stumbled across a bizarre theory about her release and it involves Dominic Toretto himself: Vin Diesel.
Griner was arrested in Moscow in February for possessing cannabis and was last month sent to a penal colony in Russia. However a deal was struck between American and Russian authorities for an exchange.
Notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, also known as 'the merchant of death' had been held in a US prison for the past 12 years but was reportedly wanted by Vladimir Putin because of what he knew about Russian intelligence, as per BBCÂ News.
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A swap of the two individuals was arranged between the two nations was arranged at Abu Dhabi airport with news that Griner was returning home greeted with jubilant scenes in the United States.
So, where does Vin Diesel come into all this? Well, in a now deleted post that that actor shared on Instagram in November, the Guardians of the Galaxy star wrote: "I need Brittney Griner home before Christmas." The photo was taken at an NBA game between the LA Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs so there is a connection to basketball but it remains unclear why Diesel wrote this.
\u201cVin Diesel sends a message\u201d— NBACentral (@NBACentral) 1669667123
It's unclear why Diesel posted this and why he deleted it but the internet has since run wild with the idea that he was in some way responsible for Griner returning home before Christmas and yes...there are memes.
\u201cCrying at Vin Diesel landing in Russia to get Brittney out the gulag\u201d— Ryan Day is a fraud (@Ryan Day is a fraud) 1670520179
\u201cNobody:\n\nVin Diesel on his way to Russia to save Brittney Griner:\u201d— General Booty \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddf2 (@General Booty \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddf2) 1670511845
\u201cVin Diesel on his way to the prisoner transfer\u201d— \ud835\udcdc\ud835\udcf2\ud835\udcfb\ud835\udcf4\ud835\udcf8\u2019\ud835\udcfc \ud835\udcdb\ud835\udcee\ud835\udcf0 \ud835\udcdf\ud835\udcfb\ud835\udcee\ud835\udcfc\ud835\udcfc (@\ud835\udcdc\ud835\udcf2\ud835\udcfb\ud835\udcf4\ud835\udcf8\u2019\ud835\udcfc \ud835\udcdb\ud835\udcee\ud835\udcf0 \ud835\udcdf\ud835\udcfb\ud835\udcee\ud835\udcfc\ud835\udcfc) 1670512985
\u201cThe Fast and Furious movie where Vin Diesel and the fam go to Russia and save Brittney Griner is going to be crazy.\u201d— Pasty Gangster (@Pasty Gangster) 1670519291
\u201cVin Diesel tearing through the Kremlin to rescue Brittney Griner\u201d— prank sinatra (@prank sinatra) 1670515863
People also appear to be unironicaly thanking him.
\u201cVin Diesel spoke and the world listened.\u201d— Legion Hoops (@Legion Hoops) 1670515064
\u201cThank you Vin Diesel. Welcome back home Brittney Griner\u201d— maggie wit da 4C \u2651\ufe0f (@maggie wit da 4C \u2651\ufe0f) 1670509341
\u201cFinally!!! Brittney is home!!! Thank you Vin Diesel!!! He fought for her & it\u2019s bcuz of HIM that she got sent home;) \u2665\ufe0f\u270c\ud83c\udffb\u201d— Jessica Tyciak (@Jessica Tyciak) 1670512524
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