Damar Hamlin: EA Sports ‘is REMOVING the CPR touchdown celebration from Madden NFL 23’

EA Sports ‘is REMOVING the CPR touchdown celebration from its Madden NFL 23 video game’ in the wake of Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest – just days after Steelers players were criticized for performing it vs. Browns

EA Sports is planning to remove a touchdown celebration in its Madden franchise that simulates giving CPR to a player, according to reports – following Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest.

The celebration will be removed through a new update that will roll out within the next few days, according to TMZ.

This report came hours after it was announced Hamlin was back in Buffalo and out of the Cincinnati hospital he was rushed to on January 2.

Video game users have previously been able to celebrate reaching the end zone by getting their players to mimic CPR. Dailymail.com has reached out to EA Sports to confirm this will no longer be the case.

EA Sports will update Madden NFL 23 to remove a celebration for touchdowns mimicking CPR

This comes after Hamlin was released from the hospital in Cincinnati and arrived in Buffalo

This comes after Hamlin was released from the hospital in Cincinnati and arrived in Buffalo

Doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center held a press conference on Monday, revealing that Hamlin was released earlier that morning and that he was safely back in Buffalo.

Hamlin put out multiple tweets after that press conference occurred, saying he would be going to Buffalo General Hospital to continue testing and be monitored.

‘Headed home to Buffalo today with a lot of love on my heart,’ the safety tweeted. ‘Watching the world come together around me on Sunday was truly an amazing feeling. The same love you all have shown me is the same love that I plan to put back into the world n more. Bigger than football!’

He later tweeted: ‘Grateful for the awesome care I received at UCMC. Happy to be back in Buffalo. The docs and nurses at Buffalo General have already made me feel at home!’ 

Hamlin posted a series of tweets after he arrived back home in New York, thanking everyone

Hamlin posted a series of tweets after he arrived back home in New York, thanking everyone

‘I can confirm he is doing well and this is the beginning of the next stage of his recovery,’ said UC’s Dr. William Knight said in Monday’s press conference.

‘We continue to be ecstatic about his recovery,’ Dr. Timothy Pritts added.

On Sunday, the entirety of the NFL held tributes to Hamlin – with teams coloring the number three on their fields in blue and red.

Other players also took to warm-ups in shirts that honored him with the phrase ‘Love for Damar’ on them. 

‘When the opening kickoff was run back he jumped up and down, got out of his chair, set I think every alarm off in the ICU in the process,’ Pritts told the press. 

Teams throughout the league highlighted the No. 3 to honor Hamlin in games over weekend

Teams throughout the league highlighted the No. 3 to honor Hamlin in games over weekend

Fans of Hamlin's team packed the home stadium in Orchard Park with signs supporting him

Fans of Hamlin’s team packed the home stadium in Orchard Park with signs supporting him

The decision from EA mirrors controversy from the most recent game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns.

Last Sunday, players on the Steelers received backlash for celebrating a sack by having someone simulate CPR on Alex Highsmith.

Fans on social media saw the celebrations and criticized the ‘unprofessional and disgusting’ team considering Hamlin suffered an on-field cardiac arrest during Monday Night Football last week.

The Steelers celebrated a sack by Alex Highsmith with a mock 'CPR' in Sunday's game

The Steelers celebrated a sack by Alex Highsmith with a mock ‘CPR’ in Sunday’s game

NFL fans on social media criticized Pittsburgh for celebration as Hamlin continues recovery

NFL fans on social media criticized Pittsburgh for celebration as Hamlin continues recovery

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk