During the Super Bowl parade for the Los Angeles Rams on Wednesday, a photographer capturing the festivities fell backward off a stage, later claiming to have fractured her spine -- all while Matthew Stafford, who watched the woman's fall from just a few feet away, appeared to walk away offering no assistance.
In a video circulating on social media, Kelly Smiley, a photog for several pro teams in the LA area, is shown slipping and falling several feet to the ground directly in front of Stafford and his wife Kelly. Stafford, holding a bottle of water after a long afternoon of celebrating, can be seen acknowledging the fall with a look of surprise, only to turn and hurry away. Kelly, who appeared equally as stunned, rushed to the edge of the stage to apparently offer help.
The video cuts off after the fall, so it's not clear if Stafford later returned to offer help of his own.
Unfortunately I fractured my spine https://t.co/LeDjF4EJnp
— Kelly Smiley (@kellysmiley23) February 17, 2022
Some users across Twitter have been quite critical of Stafford's reaction, saying that he should've at least checked on Smiley instead of walking away like nothing had happened.
Some fans defended Stafford, pointing out that he had been drinking all day and probably wasn't thinking straight.
This guy has been drinkin all day and the medical staff comes up immediately and he gets judged off a 20 second clip of him. Lets see how fast y'all think after drinkin all day.
— ⚫🟡⚫🟡 (@SteeIRNation87) February 17, 2022
In the aftermath of her fall, Smiley took to Instagram to explain her condition.
"I unfortunately fractured my spine today," Smiley said while showing the back brace she was wearing at the hospital. "Feeling ok. Staying the night in the trauma center. Thank you everyone for reaching out."
There has already been a GoFundMe page set up for Smiley, which had raised over $4,000 at the time of this article. Whether you believe Stafford should've stepped in and assisted Smiley or not, let's hope that the Rams and/or Stafford can help her foot some of the expenses involved with her injury.
The Rams were celebrating their 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI, the franchise's second Lombardi Trophy.
Follow Jasper Jones on Twitter: @jonesj2342
