Andra Day performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” known as the black national anthem, ahead of Super Bowl LVIII, receiving enthusiastic applause from fans at Allegiant Stadium.
Day was tapped to sing the song last month as part of the NFL’s pregame festivities. Additionally, Reba McIntyre sang the national anthem and Post Malone sang “America the Beautiful.”
When Super Bowl Sunday arrived and Day sang, NFL fans took to social media to criticize the league for playing the Black national anthem. It started earlier in the day and continued.
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Andra Day performs “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at Super Bowl V. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz wrote to X about a conversation he had with his wife about why he didn’t go to the Super Bowl.
“They are desecrating America’s national anthem by playing something called the ‘Negro National Anthem,'” he wrote.
Rep. Mike Roychik, a Republican in the Ohio House of Representatives, criticized the NFL.
“There is no such thing as a black national anthem. We are all Americans, united by the great and beautiful Star-Spangled Banner. The Super Bowl is supposed to unite us. It’s a shame that the NFL would do this.” he wrote to X. He decided to promote the politics of racial division again. ”
Conservative commentator CJ Pearson wrote about It’s the same. There’s only one United States of America, and it’s for everyone.” “White, black, yellow, even maroon. The left’s divisive policies are not only unnecessary, they’re disgusting. ”
Andra Day and her singers perform at Super Bowl VV. (Michael Reeves/Getty Images)
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“There is no such thing as a ‘Black National Anthem’… it’s over,” wrote politician Graham Allen.
Day performed at the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective event in Los Angeles and at Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy Gala with Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Keyshia Cole, Frederic Yonnet and others. He appeared with.
“I feel like if I’m here, I’m called to be here,” she told The Associated Press on Thursday. “This is a big moment. I don’t just want to do well, but I really want people to get in touch with that spirit.”
Day told “CBS Mornings” on Friday that she became nervous while rehearsing the song. She hoped the song would allow people to “share a really, really beautiful, spiritual moment together.”
Andra Day will perform at Super Bowl LVIII. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation)
The NFL began playing the Black national anthem in the 2020 season following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.The incident sparked a series of actions against racial injustice across the United States.
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The NAACP began promoting “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as the Negro national anthem in 1917.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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