A representative for Damar Hamlin taunted conspiracy theorists on Twitter by joking that the first public statement of Buffalo Bills safety since his on-field cardiac arrest on Jan. 2 was secretly performed by a “clone.”
Hamlin recently released his first public statement since being revived in Cincinnati and thanked fans in an edited, six-minute video posted online.
Skeptics have criticized Hamlin’s reluctance to appear publicly on the lawn of Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium in the weeks since his resuscitation, and many have suggested his miraculous recovery may have been a hoax. Hamlin appeared to address these concerns in the video, explaining that he needed time to process his near-death experience before showing up.
Separately, a conspiracy theorist questioned the veracity of Hamlin’s video, only to be shut down by NFL player rep Jordon Rooney.
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A representative for Damar Hamlin taunted conspiracy theorists on Twitter by joking that the first public statement of the Buffalo Bills’ safety since his on-field cardiac arrest on Jan. 2 was secretly performed by a “clone.”
“For a ‘complete’ video,” wrote one skeptical commenter, “it sure is stitched together.”
Rooney responded with a tweet of his own.
“Possible explanations for why the video was spliced,” Rooney began.
‘A) Damar had 100 people to thank and stopped several times to make sure he was naming everyone.
‘B) It’s fake and/or it’s a clone.’
Rooney ended his post by asking the conspiracy-oriented commenter, “What do you think could be true?”
Another Twitter user asked Rooney why he would entertain conspiracy theorists.
“Tbh there are a lot of older people who don’t understand social media who have followed me from Damar that people will believe anything if I don’t own the narrative,” he wrote. ‘I can hear you though lol.’
Another Twitter user asked Rooney why he would entertain conspiracy theorists. “Tbh there are a lot of older people who don’t understand social media who have followed me from Damar that people will believe anything if I don’t own the narrative,” he wrote
Hamlin addressed conspiracy theories surrounding the cardiac arrest following his first public appearance at Buffalo’s recent playoff loss to the Bengals on Jan. 22 at Orchard Park, New York.
Hamlin emerged from a luxury suite at Highmark Stadium and made a ‘heart’ sign with his hands on the scoreboard as he received an ovation from Bills fans.
However, conspiracy theorists on Twitter simply didn’t believe Hamlin was there. So Hamlin responded with a cryptic message on Twitter, poking fun at his doubters, many of whom tweeted that he was being played by a “body double”.
Hamlin posted a picture of himself standing in front of a recently completed mural of his likeness and wrote “clone”.
Bill’s safety Hamlin was discharged from the Buffalo hospital and is continuing his recovery at home
Damar Hamlin tweeted a picture of himself in front of a mural in Buffalo with the caption: “Clone”
A source told TMZ that the allegations were false. However, Bill’s center Mitch Morse quickly shut down these inventions when he explained that Hamlin is a naturally reserved person.
“I think his presence alone speaks volumes,” Morse told ESPN. ‘[…] He’s not a big rah-rah guy and I’m sure at some point he gets a little jaded by people asking how he’s doing or being put in a position he didn’t ask for.
“Just his presence, his smile, his positive energy that he always had always brings energy and good vibes to the group.”
Hamlin was revived in the field and taken by ambulance to a Cincinnati hospital
Conspiracy theorists have used Hamlin’s reluctance to grant media interviews as a reason for their conviction. Many seem to think his heart attack was somehow caused by the COVID-19 vaccine they falsely claim is mandatory for NFL players.
NFL players did not have to be vaccinated, although those who refused faced stricter COVID-19 protocols. The league has claimed it wants to make the vaccine compulsory for players but has been rebuffed by its union.
Hamlin is still recovering from a horrific collapse against the Bengals on Monday Night Football in week 17, during which he required CPR after nearly dying on the turf of Paycor Stadium.
Rooney, Hamlin’s marketing representative, revealed that the Bills player “still needs oxygen and his heart is monitored regularly to make sure there aren’t any setbacks or after-effects”.
“Although he can visit the team’s facilities, Damar is unable to travel often and needs extra rest to help his body heal,” he added.
It’s uncertain if the safety will ever return to the NFL. .