EA Sports Madden NFL 23 removes the CPR touchdown celebration in honor of Damar Hamlin’s recent health incident.
On Tuesday, an EA spokesperson confirmed the celebration removal from its game. The change comes as an effort to show support for the Buffalo Bills’ safety, who needed medical attention in the January 2nd game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
In Madden, players were allowed to use a CPR celebration move after scoring a touchdown. The move includes one player simulating chest compressions on his teammate.
Last Monday night, Hamlin suffered from cardiac arrest and needed CPR after he collapsed following a tackle.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive players Alex Highsmith and Demarvin Leal recently came under fire for performing the CPR move during their Sunday game against the Cleveland Browns.
Many people called the players insensitive, but Highsmith told reporters he did not make the connection until the game was over and saw comments on social media.
“I just don’t want people to think of me that way and think I was doing anything [intentional],” Highsmith said. “Because I would never, ever, ever, ever want to do that intentionally, and I never, ever would do that.”
He added, “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.”
In the meantime, Hamlin is recovering but is in “good spirits” amid further testing.
“Not home quit just yet,” Hamlin said in a tweet on Tuesday. “Still doing & passing a bunch of test. Thank you to Buffalo General it’s been nothing but love since arrival! Keep me in yall prayers please! #3strong”
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