A viral video of the new Scottish health minister Humza Yousaf suffering a nasty looking fall, while already sporting one injury, has divided opinions on social media and prompted a critical response from the man himself.
In the clip, which was shared on Twitter by BBC Scotland’s political editor Glenn Campbell, the SNP MP can be seen zipping along on a mobility scooter, with an aide in tow, before his foot collides with the wheel, sending him tumbling to the ground in dramatic fashion.
The health secretary @HumzaYousaf does not appear to be having a good day at work…
— Glenn Campbell (@GlennBBC) September 16, 2021
H/T @STVAlison pic.twitter.com/BAolpCEmqX
As you can see from the video, Yousaf already has a large cast on his right leg, which he is wearing after reportedly rupturing his Achilles while playing badminton.
The clip, which at the time of writing has been viewed more than 240,000 times on Twitter, has divided opinion, with many, including Laurence Fox, finding jokes to make out of the fall.
Ambulance will be with you within 40 hours Humza. https://t.co/JcUVpiJZic
— Laurence Fox ✌🏼🇬🇧✌🏼 (@LozzaFox) September 16, 2021
Seriously @HumzaYousaf, I do hope you are OK. Give me a call if you need a doctor....... https://t.co/XckNb84oSr
— Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP (@Sandeshgulhane) September 16, 2021
However, many others have questioned why this moment was filmed and then shared in the first place, given that Yousaf is already carrying an injury.
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I’m really not convinced sharing someone using a mobility aid and tripping up is really what we should expect from the BBC.
— Ross Colquhoun (@rosscolquhoun) September 16, 2021
Weirdly unsavoury look for a state broadcaster to be mocking someone for hurting themselves while already carrying an injury.
— Ian Phillip (@mr_phillip) September 16, 2021
This is in very poor taste…
— Christina McKelvie (@ChristinaSNP) September 16, 2021
Why would you share this? An injured man falling while using a mobility aid isn't entertainment. Sharing this as clickbait is pure ableism.
— Cllr Lisa-Marie Hughes SNP 🏴 (@ThisGirl_is) September 16, 2021
Yousaf himself has also criticised the filming and sharing of the incident. On Twitter, he wrote: “All for media scrutiny & never shy away from it. Just not sure there is need or purpose to tweet out a video of me falling over while injured. If anyone else had fallen over while on crutches, a knee scooter, or in a wheelchair would your first instinct be to film it & tweet out?”
All for media scrutiny & never shy away from it. Just not sure there is need or purpose to tweet out a video of me falling over while injured. If anyone else had fallen over while on crutches, a knee scooter, or in a wheelchair would your first instinct be to film it & tweet out? https://t.co/sM7ue70CDg
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) September 16, 2021
In wake of this, some have pointed out that Yousaf made a joke about Douglas Ross, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, who also works as a football referee, after he also fell over during the 2018 Scottish Cup Final between Celtic and Motherwell.
🚨 | NEW: Humza Yousaf has responded to the video of him falling over pic.twitter.com/ftmKgCtzhd
— Politics For All (@PoliticsForAlI) September 16, 2021
This all comes amid Nicola Sturgeon announcing that the military is going to be called in to help with Scotland’s struggling ambulance service, after a pension named Gerard Brown, died following a collapse at his home and having to wait 40 hours for an ambulance to arrive.
