Super Bowl fans are left split by Andra Day’s performance of the ‘Black National Anthem’ ahead of the game… as Megyn Kelly says song ‘doesn’t belong’ in pre-game proceedings The NFL has had the song played or performed at each Super Bowl since 2020 While some criticized the song, others praised Day’s performance on Sunday DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news Sports fans on social media split the opinion on a performance of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ at Super Bowl LVIII – with many praising the singing of Andra Day with others objecting to the song being sang at all. ‘Lift Every Voice’ is recognized by the NAACP as the ‘Black national anthem’ for African-Americans and has been performed at the NFL’s championship game ever since Super Bowl LV in the 2020 season. A number of conservatives on social media were not happy that this tradition has continued – with political analysts and Republican politicians vowing to boycott the game. Florida representative Matt Gaetz (R) tweeted out an exchange he had with his wife saying that he would not be watching the show because, ‘They’re desecrating America’s National Anthem by playing something called the “Black National Anthem.”‘ Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly wrote, ‘The so-called Black National Anthem does not belong at the Super Bowl. We already have a National Anthem and it includes EVERYONE.’ Andra Day performed the Black National Anthem, ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’, at the Super Bowl Conservatives on social media took exception to the performance taking place at all Other conservative twitter accounts joined in the piling on – again, not criticizing the performance, but taking exception that it was there in the first place. ‘There is no such thing as a “Black National Anthem”,’ one account wrote. ‘If you have a problem with the AMERICAN National Anthem, feel free to leave.’ Another said, ‘No such thing as a “Black National Anthem”. The end.’ Of course, as there typically always is in America, there were just as many on the opposite side of the aisle that praised the inclusion of L.E.V.A.S. New York representative Ritchie Torres (D) quote tweeted Gaetz’s post, saying, ‘The Black National Anthem – “Lift Every Voice and Sing” – 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.’ Others praised the performance while questioning and mocking the conservative outrage Former NFL wide receiver Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson praised Day’s performance, saying, ‘Holy s**t Andra Day absolutely killed Lift Every Voice and Sing’. Another account wrote, ‘That was a Black National Anthem to remember… amazing from Andra Day and everyone up there.’ Others mocked the outrage, with one account tweeting, ‘time for the obligatory “WHY ARE THERE TWO NATIONAL ANTHEMS THATS SO DIVISIVE WHATS A BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM AAAAAAAAA WE’RE ALL AMERICANS” tweets. Shoutout Andra Day tho she fire.’ Lift Every Voice and Sing is a Christian hymn written in 1900 that has been featured in multiple Christian hymnals of many denominations. In the pregame ceremonies for the first week of the 2020 NFL season, the league said the song would be played or performed in the aftermath of that summer’s George Floyd protests. A recorded performance by Alicia Keys was played at Super Bowl LV and has been played at each Super Bowl ever since. That includes performances by Gospel duo Mary Mary at Super Bowl LVI and by Sheryl Lee Ralph at Super Bowl LVII. The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

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