Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has responded to the outrage over the jacket he wore to Super Bowl LVII. The jacket, designed by artist Takashi Murakami and priced at $3,150, featured an abstract illustration of Jesus’s face.
The jacket drew criticism from former NFL running back Adrian Peterson, who called it “blasphemous.” Other fans also took offense to the design, claiming it was disrespectful.
In response to the backlash, Hamlin wrote a statement on Twitter explaining his intentions behind wearing the jacket. He said that he never intended to offend anyone and that he was simply trying to express himself through art.
“I understand why some people may have been offended by my choice of clothing,” Hamlin wrote in his statement. “I want everyone to know that I meant no disrespect or harm with my choice of fashion for the Super Bowl.”
He went on to explain that he views art as a form of self-expression and that he believes everyone should be free to express themselves without fear of judgement or criticism.
“My intention was not to hurt or disrespect anyone,” Hamlin said in his statement. “I believe in freedom of expression and I hope others can respect my decision as well.”
My beliefs and Relationship with God is not tied to symbolic images. I will learn from this and continue to walk in Love as I ALWAYS have. Matthew 7:1-5 🫶🏾💕
— 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐥𝐢𝐧 (@HamlinIsland) February 15, 2023
Hamlin also spoke with Peterson after receiving criticism for his outfit choice. According to reports, Peterson accepted Hamlin’s explanation and they had a productive conversation about expressing oneself through art without offending others.
This is great and all, but I instantly caught him “throwing shade” in his tweets. What he did was include a citation from the Bible, Matthew 7:1-5 which people who can’t spend ten seconds trying to understand scripture use to condemn people who judge others. But that’s not what this passage is saying. It’s about Jesus telling others not to judge hypocritically.
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
So, for example, don’t tell someone to quit smoking cigarettes then go get in your car and fire one up yourself. That’s the idea. Jesus is saying to remove your hypocrisy and then you can come from a place where you can tell others not to do the same.
The controversy surrounding Hamlin’s jacket highlights how important it is for people to think carefully about what they wear in public settings. While it is important for people to be able express themselves freely, it is also important for them to consider how their choices might affect other people and whether their actions could be misinterpreted or seen as offensive by some viewers.
