5/20 7:54 AM PT -- 5/20 The barbershop that welcomed Big Ben in for a trim over the weekend says it HAS been following the government's guidelines since the shutdown ... and Roethlisberger's cut was a "personal favor."
“Norman’s Cuttin’ Edge Barber Shop has been closed for business since the governor’s shut-down order, and presently remains closed, in full compliance with the law and state regulations," the shop's lawyer said in a statement.
"Mr. Norman and Mr. Roethlisberger are close personal friends, and Mr. Norman’s use of his free time during closure to provide a haircut to his was a personal favor where no money was receiver or exchanged.
"We should all look within ourselves to celebrate and be thankful for the existence of family, community, and personal friends to lend a hand in each of our lives at this time rather than promote stories that divide us.”
Ben Roethlisberger's being put on blast for getting a haircut in public during the COVID-19 pandemic ... with PA Governor Tom Wolf calling out the QB for not following the state's shutdown measures.
Of course, Big Ben was excited to show off his new, trimmed look in a hype video on Monday ... which symbolized the Steelers QB finally being back to 100% after an elbow injury.
The video showed a mask-less Ben in a Sewickley barbershop getting his hair and beard trimmed up over the weekend ... which is a big no-no, considering hair salons in Allegheny County haven't gotten the green light to reopen yet.
When asked if Ben's visit will spark an investigation into the barbershop ... Wolf explained he's not happy about the situation.
The beard is trimmed...
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 18, 2020
...you know what that means 👀@_BigBen7 | @TeamJuJu | @JamesConner_ | @Switz pic.twitter.com/YLTtCynK25
"My concern is just a general concern," Wolf said on Tuesday. "Anybody who puts himself or herself into harm’s way is something that I think we have to try to avoid."
"When you go to something like a barbershop and you’re not protected, I don’t care who you are, the chances of that virus actually wreaking havoc on your life increases."
"I don’t personally think any Pennsylvanian ought to take that chance. I certainly don’t want to take that chance myself."
Ben had been growing his hair out ever since he went down with the injury in September ... vowing to keep the caveman look until he was officially back.
Originally published -- 5/19 1:47 AM PT