Pittsburgh Steelers’ Alex Highsmith celebrated sack on Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson by emulating CPR on Highsmith while he was down on the ground … just days after the Damar Hamlin incident … and social media wasn’t having it.
Highsmith’s CPR celebration, which has since gone viral, came less than a week after Hamlin collapsed on the field following a cardiac arrest in Monday’s game between Hamlin’s Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Steelers’ Players Perform Mock CPR Celebration After Sack, Social Media Calls “Classless” Team Out
Thankfully, Hamlin has made a remarkable recovery in the days since, and even posted to Instagram for the first time since waking back up from his medically-induced coma.
However, fans were not having it, and went after the Steelers calling them “classless” and “total trash.”
“Glad they got eliminated,” one fan, who retweeted the clip, wrote. “Total trash,” another, who retweeted the video, posted.
“Classless Steelers with the CPR celebration,” another wrote.
“I know i didn’t just see a Steelers player giving CPR to Alex Highsmith on a sack celebration…” a fourth commenter noted.
“Wow Steelers really doing a cpr celebration on alex highsmith when all around the NFL everyone else is sending love and prayers this week. You should be ashamed,” one person commented.
Clip Of Fellow NFL Players Praying For Hamlin Before Game Goes Viral: “A Beautiful Sight To See”
Not all of Hamlin’s NFL colleagues were as insensitive, however, with a clip of players kneeling together in prayer for Hamlin going viral as well.
“It was a beautiful site to see! Regardless of race, religion or creed, just men praying for a fellow brother! ❤️💙 Maybe humanity isn’t dead. 🫶🏾” one person commented.
“The world stopped and prayed🙌🏽u could feel the atmosphere change,” another wrote.
“This is beautiful! I hope the NFL is also paying his medical bills and all that he’ll incur in the future. Experience tells me they’ll do everything for optics but not for the betterment of the players.”
Hamlin Posts On Instagram For The First Time Since Cardiac Arrest Incident
Meanwhile, Hamlin himself took to Instagram this week ahead of the Bills game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, which saw Buffalo take a 35-23 victory.
“The way he brought the world together in prayer is mind blowing! God is so good 🙌🏾! So happy for this young man & his family 💙💙💙” one person commented on Hamlin’s post.
“This is what happens when we pray on one accord! One nation under God🙌🏾” another wrote.
The Shade Room had previously reported that Hamlin was awake after being placed in a medically-induced coma, and had been holding hands with family and loved ones at the hospital in the wake of his cardiac arrest incident.