Quick take:
- A 1/1 NFT of the video is listed on Foundation.
- A portion of the proceeds will benefit Last Prisoner Project.
- Last Prisoner Project is a nonprofit that supports those incarcerated for cannabis offences.
NFL star Laremy Tunsil announced in a tweet today that he’s moving on from the infamous 2016 viral video of him smoking marijuana through a gas mask by minting it as an NFT.
I’m officially moving on and putting this moment in the past.
I’m minting a 1 of 1 NFT of the infamous gas mask video to be listed. A portion of the proceeds will benefit @lastprisonerprj which supports those incarcerated for cannabis offenses.— Laremy Tunsil (@KingTunsil78) April 27, 2022
The video was posted just before the 2016 NFL Draft, made Tunsil a target of widespread criticism. Initially projected as the draft’s top offensive tackle, he slid down the draft board from the top five and was the 13th pick drafted by the Miami Dolphins, losing an estimated $7 – $13 million in guaranteed signing bonus due to his downfall.
Tunsil minted the 1/1 NFT of the video today, which is listed on NFT platform, Foundation. As of this writing, the highest bid for the NFT is at 1.42 ETH. A portion of the proceeds will Last Prisoner Project, a nonprofit that supports those incarcerated for cannabis offences and fights for cannabis law reform.
The NFT listing description on Foundation says that the “video was released without Laremy’s consent on draft night in 2016 forever changing the course of Laremy’s future.”
Despite the incident being one of the most dramatic moments in NFL Draft history, Tunsil has risen above it and done well for himself. He earned Pro Bowl selections in the 2019 and 2020 seasons and signed a three-year, $66 million contract extension in 2020, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in league history that year.
“When that video came out that actually messed me up internally, mentally. Whoever put that video out tarnished my name, wanted to bash me. I just wanted to keep it inside and work on myself mentally and when the time was right I was going to talk about it,” said Tunsil in an interview with The Complex last year. “To this day, I still play with the anger, because I have to prove myself, because I feel like I’m not getting the accolades I deserve because of the gas mask.”
Weed smoking has become more socially acceptable in recent years. Last year, the NFLPA lifted the harsh regulations that prohibited the use of marijuana. Under the new deal, players will not be tested for marijuana until the pre-season.
Tunsil minted the NFT today to coincide with the day before this year’s NFL Draft Day. “I’m looking toward and excited for the future and am grateful for all of those that supported me on my draft night and those that have and will continue to support my journey,” he tweeted.
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