Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith is in the hot seat this week after performing a CPR sack celebration during a game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
NFL Memes shared a tweet during the game, writing, “Shoutout to the Steelers for choosing literally the WORST possible sack celebration this week…”
Shoutout to the Steelers for choosing literally the WORST possible sack celebration this week… pic.twitter.com/MNYB5EqMtI
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) January 8, 2023
The short clip showed linebacker Highsmith, who had tackled Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson for a sack, performing a celebration that appeared to mimic chest compressions.
Many fans and viewers were outraged by the celebration, arguing that it was insensitive and inappropriate in light of the Hamlin incident, and took to Twitter to express their opposition.
Classic trash #Steelers ⬆️
— Andy McNamara (@AndyMc81) January 8, 2023
Bad timing. Too early.
— CLAY JAMES (@WhoIsClayJames) January 9, 2023
It’s called “reading the room”
— Desmond Smith Sr.™ (@_RickyRicardo06) January 9, 2023
Yeah that’s super tone deaf. I get it’s a common enough celly that it’s in madden, and I assume it was just a lack of thought not an intentional thing, but yikes.
— Kyle Foley (@KFoleyFL) January 9, 2023
A few people defended Highsmith’s actions by pointing out that the team has used the sack celebration multiple times in the past and urging people not to take it personally.
Everyone always assume someone’s being attacked.
— Patcha (@TheRealPatcha) January 9, 2023
For God’s sake get real if Demar had not had a heart attack no one would have ever thought anything about that sack celebration because players do it all the time. Follow the rest of Alex highsmith his character is beyond reproach
— John Beard (@JohnBeard39) January 9, 2023
CPR literally saved Hamlin’s life…are you saying CPR is bad??
— Luke Christensen (@LukeDaBomb1) January 8, 2023
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Highsmith, 25, has since apologized for the CPR sack following the criticism.
On Monday, Highsmith told reporters, “I just don’t want people to think of me that way and think I was doing anything [intentional]. Because I would never, ever, ever, ever want to do that intentionally, and I never, ever would do that.”
Highsmith continued, “I just want people to know that I have nothing but love for Damar and his family. When that happened, I was shook for a couple days. Me and my wife, we were watching the game, we immediately saw it and intentionally started praying, intentionally prayed for him, his parents, the doctors, the nurses. Because me and her, we’re both followers of Christ. We both believe that prayer is powerful, and I’m just thankful for the miraculous work God has done with Damar’s life. I just want people to know that there was nothing intentional about that. It was never planned, none of that.”
