"Clone is up and running" - NFL fans critique Damar Hamlin's first video since his cardiac arrest

Published Jan 29, 2023 17:08 GMT

Damar Hamlin released a video, thanking everyone for their support. Many believe that video (left) along with an image from last week Buffalo Bills game (right), is a body double and not Hamlin.

Last week, Damar Hamlin was seen arriving at Highmark Stadium ahead of the Buffalo Bills AFC divisional matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. The video of the Buffalo Bills safety walking into the locker room, as well as in one of the stadium's suites, has gone viral because some don't believe it was him.

This week, a conspiracy theory that it was actually a body double and not Hamlin ran wild across the internet. On Saturday afternoon, the Buffalo Bills safety released a video on his social media accounts. He thanked everyone and said that he knows that he can make an impact on the world and this is just the beginning. He ended it by making his famous hand gesture of using his two hands to make a heart.

Twitter, of course, was loaded with responses and comments to the video. Some gave sarcastic responses and mocked others by referring to the video as a 'clone'. But there are still some who are convinced that the video was not that of Damar Hamlin and was someone else. Even going as far as to say that some of his tattoos were different. Some even noted that artificial intelligence can use images of people and create new content.

Damar Hamlin trolls conspiracy theorists

For the last week, NFL fans and others on social media have doubted that Damar Hamlin actually survived the cardiac arrest episode. These doubters have stated that it was a 'clone' or body double that attended last week's game at Highmark Stadium.

A few days later, Hamlin posted a photo on Twitter of himself in front of a mural that was recently done by an artist in the Buffalo area. He captioned the Tweet 'Clone' along with the moji of a ninja. It was clearly a response to the rumors that it wasn't actually him.

This Tweet came just a few days after Bills quarterback Josh Allen responded to the rumors as well. Josh Allen was asked by NFL Network's Kyle Brandt on his "Kyle Brandt's Basement" podcast about the allegations.

Josh Allen, who appeared unaware that such a story had circulated around social media, assured everyone that it was in fact his teammate. Josh Allen said that the Buffalo Bills safety visited with them in the locker room before the game and the hood and sunglasses are just a part of his fashion sense, not a way for him to cover his true identity.

About the author

Bethany Cohen is an NFL writer at Sportskeeda, with a rich prior 15-year experience in the sports writing industry, primarily covering the MLB and MiLB. She majored in Communications from the University of South Florida and has previously worked for top companies such as Examiner.com and Legends on Deck.

Bethany owes her NFL allegiance to the Pittsburgh Steelers owing to their long-standing tradition and competitiveness. She is a fan of old stalwarts such as Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris and would love to watch them in the 1970s if she manages to get her hand on a time machine. She also acknowledges the greatness of modern icons like T.J. Watt for his desire to continuously improve despite being on top. She admires coaches Mike Tomlin and Andy Reid for their longevity and success.

The ace reporter credits her knowledge and love for the sport to be her biggest reporting strengths. Prior fact-checking is a big component of her process and she always scours through additional sources to ensure complete accuracy in her content.

Super Bowl XLIII, when the Steelers won the the grand prize after Santonio Holmes’ epic catch in the end zone with just seconds left on the clock is etched in Bethany’s memory forever. When she is free of her professional commitments, she likes to attend sports events and music concerts.

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