NFL fans are calling for a boycott of the Super Bowl after it was confirmed that 'Lift Every Voice and Sing', known as the black national anthem, will be performed ahead of Sunday's game in New Orleans. Grammy-winning singer Ledisi is set to sing the song before Jon Batiste performs the national anthem, with President Donald Trump in attendance.
Social media erupted with criticism, with some fans vowing not to watch. One user wrote: 'As if we needed another reason to not watch the damn game.' Another said: 'No other sports league tries to force a 'Black National Anthem' down peoples' throats.' A third posted: 'I haven’t watched football ever since they started disrespecting the National Anthem. And there is no such thing as a Black National Anthem.'
The NFL has faced similar backlash in previous years. At the 2023 Super Bowl, Republican politician Kari Lake refused to stand for the black anthem, writing afterwards: 'I'm just here for THE National Anthem.' Last year, Andra Day's performance drew criticism from figures like Florida Representative Matt Gaetz and conservative commentator Megyn Kelly.
However, some defended the tradition. New York Representative Ritchie Torres said: 'The Black National Anthem... has been a part of our Nation's history since the early 20th century. The erasure of African American history as American history is a form of racism that runs deep on the far right.'
Trump's attendance marks the first time a sitting US president will attend the Super Bowl. The game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs takes place at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday.
