Damar Hamlin has been the recipient of millions of prayers after his on-field cardiac arrest in early January. Remarkably, Hamlin appears to have recovered from the incident and has slowly returned to public life.
In one his first forays in public at the Super Bowl, Hamlin was spotted wearing a strange jacket that many have called blasphemous.
The Takashi Murakami “Travis Jesus” jacket said, “Without the end or beginning there is no day and there is no night” with a graphic picture of a crucifix on the back.
An odd move for someone who inspired so many faith-filled reactions.
NFL free agent Adrian Peterson, a running back who spent 9 years with the Minnesota Vikings, weighed in on the controversy and took Hamlin to task.
According to The New York Post, in a now deleted Instagram post, Peterson said, “You should be thanking God son! This is Blasphemy!! We all fall short but cmon man! I find this disrespectful!! #grateful #goddid”
Later, after speaking with Hamlin, Peterson removed the original comment and provided an updated post.
“So I spoke with @d.ham3 Damar, and we were able to discuss our thoughts as men. I want to be clear, I’m the last person to judge anyone, and that was never my intention. However, I do feel as if the jacket was disrespectful and it was something that I needed to share. I do realize everyone makes mistakes and falls short at times, so again, my intention was never to judge, just to share my opinion. Damar, I have respect and love for you and I wish you nothing but the best, but I just can’t rock with that jacket. I feel like there are a lot people, young and old, looking up to you and with power and influence comes great responsibility. I apologize for offending you, I just felt offended in that moment as a man who loves and respects our Lord and Savior, Yeshua. After speaking with Damar, I have an understanding that it didn’t come from a place of ill intent! #grateful#god #forgiveness”
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Hamlin remarked on the blessing of being at the game.