Outgoing Illinois Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger called conservative activist Charlie Kirk "human garbage" for suggesting that the COVID-19 vaccine is to blame for football player Damar Hamlin's sudden cardiac arrest during the first quarter of a match against the Cincinnati Bengals this week.
Kirk—the founder of Turning Point USA which advocates for conservative politics on high school, college and university campuses—said on Twitter that Hamlin's collapse is just the latest example of "a tragic and all too familiar sight right now" that can be attributed to COVID-19 vaccines.
Hamlin is currently in critical condition and had to be resuscitated twice the night of the incident, facts that have prompted far-right anti-vaxxers like Kirk to claim without evidence that Hamlin's cardiac arrest was caused by the vaccine and speculate that he would die as a result of getting the shot.
You can see Kirk's tweet below.
\u201cThis is a tragic and all too familiar sight right now: Athletes dropping suddenly.\u201d— Charlie Kirk (@Charlie Kirk) 1672714346
A short while afterward, Kinzinger slammed Kirk for fueling fears and concerns over COVID-19 vaccinations making people sick, which anti-vaxxers have seized on since vaccines became widely available and largely tempered the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Kinzinger wrote:
"You are absolutely the biggest piece of human garbage that can possibly exist right now. I literally think you are done now."
"Using this tragedy for your BS lies is sick."
You can see Kinzinger's tweet below.
\u201cYou are absolutely the biggest piece of human garbage that can possibly exist right now. I literally think you are done now\n\nUsing this tragedy for your BS lies is sick\u201d— Adam Kinzinger #fella (@Adam Kinzinger #fella) 1672715729
Kirk's bogus claim has been echoed by other far-right activists like media personality Stu Peters, who directed Died Suddenly, a "documentary" whose main narrative is that COVID-19 vaccines have supposedly caused otherwise healthy individuals to "die suddenly" en masse from excessive blood clotting caused by the spike protein produced by the mRNA vaccine.
Kinzinger took note of other conservatives who have spread baseless conspiracies about Hamlin—whose vaccine status is unknown—and condemned for their "heartless, cold, evil" claims.
\u201cSick disgusting human beings. This isn\u2019t politics this is straight up heartless, cold, evil\u201d— Adam Kinzinger #fella (@Adam Kinzinger #fella) 1672716054
Many have joined Kinzinger in criticizing Kirk and others who have sowed fear and distrust in the wake of Hamlin's sudden health emergency.
\u201cSo sick. Really low but not surprised.\u201d— Deborah Vangelos (@Deborah Vangelos) 1672785459
\u201cThis man saying what we are all thinking\u201d— That Braves Girl (@That Braves Girl) 1672721708
\u201cCharlie is the scum of the earth.\u201d— Jase Daniels \ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffb\u271d\ufe0f (@Jase Daniels \ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffb\u271d\ufe0f) 1672731819
\u201cHe\u2019s a low life\u201d— CHRIS (@CHRIS) 1672764047
\u201cGuy doesn't mince words.\u201d— Laurie Woog (@Laurie Woog) 1672768149
\u201cI agree with @AdamKinzinger. Chuckles (@charliekirk11) is human garbage. Hamlin had his heart knocked off rhythm by the hit, and went into cardiac arrest. It\u2019s rare, but it happens.\u201d— docrod2008 (@docrod2008) 1672756684
\u201cI was stunned yesterday, reading comments from maga\u2019s blaming vaccine for this young athlete collapse. When you watch a video you can see that another athlete\u2019s helmet hit his chest with so much force. But maga don\u2019t care about the truth\u201d— Iryna Buczkowski\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\u0407\u0440\u0438\u043d\u0430 (@Iryna Buczkowski\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\u0407\u0440\u0438\u043d\u0430) 1672764719
The National Football League (NFL) and its players have offered their support to Hamlin and his family since the incident, with tributes pouring in across Cincinnati, Ohio—where Hamlin's team, the Buffalo Bills, played his fateful game—and around the country.
As of yesterday, Hamlin remained at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center while sedated and on a ventilator.
Hamlin's uncle told reporters that his nephew's condition is "trending upwards" and noted that Hamlin's cardiac arrest was a complete surprise to the rest of the family because Hamlin was “healthy as an ox.”
@coyleray/Instagram