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Because our world has rotted to such an irreparable degree, Damar Hamlin’s appearance at Sunday’s AFC Divisional Round matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals has actually generated conspiracy theories.
If you head over to Elon Musk’s Twitter and begin to type “Damar Hamlin” into the search bar, the top two suggestions are “Damar Hamlin dead” and “Damar Hamlin face.” If you click on either suggestion, you’ll be brought to a string of tweets that suggest the 24-year-old Buffalo Bills safety actually died and the one that showed up at the game is a “clone.”
In addition to Twitter, the conspiracy theory was also trending on TikTok, according to users of the app:
One weirdo started a rumor / conspiracy on TikTok that Damar Hamlin didn’t want to be seen at the game or doesn’t show his face in pictures, because he’s “dead” and has been cloned. 🤦🏽♂️ And now he’s trolling the trolls. 😂 https://t.co/VWIRkjg46K
— Maybe: DP 🤷🏽♂️ (@DP_Lavezzi22) January 24, 2023
Do people really think Damar Hamlin’s dead? It’s all I’m seeing on TikTok now!
— Uncle Smooth (@BroadwaterJ98) January 24, 2023
TikTok making me mad af saying that wasn’t damar Hamlin at the game and it’s some type clone. Yall conspiracy theorists are the worst.
— DT (@dtaylor_3) January 23, 2023
This Damar Hamlin clone TikTok conspiracy theory is insane and people are crazy
— Maiya❣ (@maiya_fudge) January 23, 2023
Twitter and tiktok mfs so dirty rn making fake conspiracies talm bout damar hamlin is dead and dat was a clone earlier, Let that man name chill ppl like starting stupid shit for some views it’s disgusting
— Zae😈💯💰 (@Ayee_zae) January 23, 2023
TikTok telling me that was a Damar Hamlin clone at the game
— . (@Newnametba2) January 23, 2023
Clearly catching wind of these conspiracy theories, Hamlin took to Twitter on Monday evening to post a picture of himself in front of his mural and captioned the photo “Clone” with a ninja emoji.
“Clone” 🥷🏽 pic.twitter.com/CLpfDsNzrV
— 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐥𝐢𝐧 (@HamlinIsland) January 24, 2023
Hamlin — drafted by the Bills out of the University of Pittsburgh in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft — suffered cardiac arrest after making a tackle on Tee Higgins during the eventually-canceled Monday Night Football Game between the Bills and Bengals on January 2.
After a few days of recovery at the UC Medical Center in Cincinnati, Hamlin returned to Buffalo where he continued his rehab before making an appearance at Sunday’s divisional-round game, which the Bills ultimately lost by a score of 27-10. At this time, the future of his NFL career is uncertain.
While every athlete is obviously unique, Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen suffered cardiac arrest as he was playing for Denmark during the Euros in the summer of 2021. Despite the scary situation, the 30-year-old Eriksen recovered and has now resumed playing professional soccer as he’s currently a starter for United.
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