Damar Hamlin has posted an apology after he received criticism for the jacket he was seen wearing at the Super Bowl LVII.
On Sunday (February 12) - a month after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch during the Buffalo Bills vs Cincinnati Bengals game - the 24-year-old attended the football showdown.
The Buffalo Bills safety was spotted laughing and waving to fans and colleagues who were relieved to see him well after he made a miraculous recovery.
Hamlin sat next to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the mother of two players Donna Kelce in a $3,150 jacket designed by Takashi Murakami - which had a crucifix with an altered Jesus' head.
The garment caused quite a stir on social media as former NFL star Adrian Peterson decided to voice his displeasure with it on his Instagram page.
Before editing his caption, Peterson wrote: "You should be thanking God son! This is Blasphemy!! We all fall short but cmon man! I find this disrespectful!! #grateful #goddid."
However, he has since changed his initial statement to a lengthier one after revealing that the two athletes had a discussion about the jacket.
"So I spoke with 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," he began.
"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," he continued.
"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!" Peterson concluded.
Hamlin has now taken to his social media page to explain his interpretation of the jacket and apologize to those that were insulted by it.
"After talking with my parents I understand how my coat could have offended some people. It was never my intentions to hurt or disrespect anyone, the coat is abstract art to me. It says Eternal which I am Eternally thankful to my Savior!", he wrote in one tweet.
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," he added in another.
While some users were questioning the courageous footballer's faith due to his fashion choice, he shared in a recent interview with Good Morning America that his belief in God helped him recover from his cardiac arrest.
"I'm just thankful [God] gave me a second chance, you know, just to live normally and just come out almost without a scratch on me," he said. "Just to be able to keep going."
