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Publicity stunts can be highly exciting to witness but in the case of former NFL star Drew Brees, it put the world in fear. Last year, the retired NFL QB shocked the world with a stunt that divided people’s judgments. As the news seemed to be dying down, Pat McAfee and his crew reignited the incident by starting an open discussion on the act. 

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While Drew Brees performed an unparalleled feat for PointsBet, his venture raked criticism from many people, including Lightning Strike and Electrical Shock Survivors International (LSESSI). But the stunt really swept the internet when the video of him being struck by lightning circulated. See what Pat McAfee has to say about this whole situation. 

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Pat McAfee reveals how Drew Brees fooled him

In a recent episode on The Pat McAfee Show, the former NFL punter and professional wrestler highlighted Drew Brees’ past daring action where he appeared to be struck by lightning. He commented, “Drew Brees is dead. That’s pretty much what we were told.” Everybody who was present at the scene in Venezuela while they were filming a commercial thought Drew Brees was either dead or gravely injured. 

It turned out that the retired New Orleans Saints QB was pulling off a publicity undertaking for PointBet’s “lightning bets” service. Later, Brees wrote on his Twitter, “The lightning must’ve thought I was wearing a Falcons jersey, that’s why it tried to get me. I’m fine… Who Dat!

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The stunt fooled everyone, including Pat McAfee who confessed, “I thought he was dead. That was a wild thing. We had a mourning situation.” While some people applauded Drew Brees’ dangerous act, some feel it’s a “disgusting” and “terrible” marketing ploy. 

Drew Brees slammed for his lightning publicity stunt

LSESSI  slammed Drew Brees’ action as “disgusting” and “inappropriate.” It raised a statement on TMZ Sports stating, “The recent Drew Brees lightning commercial is an inappropriate, disgusting method of promoting gambling or any TV commercial campaigns.” The organization further held that it is saddening to see the continual ridicule of lightning and electrical injury survivors in a comical light.

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Death from lightning strikes is still a national concern where an average of 28 people die in the US each year from lightning strikes, according to the CDC. In a record between 2006 to 2021, 444 people died in the US after being struck by lightning. Perhaps, PointBet and Drew Brees might have taken their lightning feat too far without considering the consequence of actual lightning strikes.

Drew Brees gave Pat McAfee and the world a non-existent premonition of death, which is not pleasant in any sense. But just like there’s a silver lining in every storm, we can only take Drew Brees’ risky deed as a lesson to educate ourselves on the real dangers of natural accidents. 

WATCH THIS STORY: Pat McAfee Shines A Spotlight On NBA Star Joel Embiid’s WWE-Inspired DX Gesture Highlighting $35,000 Fine

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Khosalu Puro

3,332 Articles

Khosalu Puro is a Primetime College Football Writer at EssentiallySports, keeping a close watch on everything from locker room buzz to end zone drama. Her journalism career began with four relentless years covering regional football circuits, where she honed her eye for team dynamics on the field. At EssentiallySports, she took that foundation national, leading coverage across the college football space. For the past two seasons, she has anchored ES Marquee Saturdays, managing live weekend coverage while sharing her expertise with the team’s emerging writers. She also plays a key role in the CFB Pro Writer Program, a unique initiative connecting editorial storytelling with fan-driven content. Khosalu ensures her experience is passed on to the rest of the team as well.

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