“It is unfortunate that our national anthem has been dragged into this debate when the distinctive senses of the national anthem and fighting for justice should each stand alone. Kaepernick is protesting two things, and they are police violence and injustice,” she responded in a statement to Variety. In the face of controversy surrounding Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protest, Knight made clear why she made the decision to perform. The 74-year-old singer finished “The Star-Spangled Banner” at two minutes and one second, which was 14 seconds more than the timing prediction proposed by betting sites.īut when you’re Gladys Knight and considered the Empress of Soul (may the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, rest in peace), there’s no need to worry about some guy on the Internet paying attention to the song you’ve performed many times. Scheduled acts Maroon 5, rapper Travis Scott and Big Boi also took heat for choosing to perform at halftime.Seven-time Grammy winner Gladys Knight kicked off the Super Bowl in Atlanta with the national anthem in a white studded dress, sparkling headpiece, and silver heeled boots to match. Her defenders included one fan, who tweeted, "How are people canceling Gladys Knight for performing at the Super Bowl this year but they still plan on WATCHING the Super Bowl this year? How does that work."Īnother Knight fan posted: "Now the NFL/Super Bowl got it right with Gladys Knight singing the National Anthem. I pray that this national anthem will bring us all together in a way never before witnessed and we can move forward and untangle these truths which mean so much to all of us." "No matter who chooses to deflect with this narrative and continue to mix these two in the same message, it is not so and cannot be made so by anyone speaking it. "I am here today and on Sunday, (February 3), to give the anthem back its voice, to stand for that historic choice of words, the way it unites us when we hear it and to free it from the same prejudices and struggles I have fought long and hard for all my life, from walking back hallways, from marching with our social leaders, from using my voice for good – I have been in the forefront of this battle longer than most of those voicing their opinions to win the right to sing our country's anthem on a stage as large as the Super Bowl LIII."įurthermore, she added, deferring to perhaps a teachable moment for those with knee-jerk reactions to the announcement: Rather than taking the fray bait, Knight appeared took the high road in response to her detractors. "It is unfortunate that our national anthem has been dragged into this debate when the distinctive senses of the national anthem and fighting for justice should each stand alone." Kaepernick is protesting two things, and they are police violence and injustice," she wrote. She defended her stance in a statement to Variety, also reported on Thursday: Knight, 74, who led the chart-topping soul group Gladys Knight & the Pips from 1961 to 1989, didn't back down to the criticism. Gladys Knight, who was billed as the Empress of Soul during her introduction, gave an amazing performance of the National Anthem at the 2019 Super Bowl. Gladys Knight has just been added to the long list of other muted artists."īy "muted artists," may have meant other musical artists who have taken plenty of heat in recent weeks for agreeing to play the Super Bowl halftime show, one of the highest rated television events of the year. One fan, posting with a handle, tweeted Friday that "Kaepernick lost his NFL career fighting for black social justice, where is the solidarity? So if this is true Ms. Traditionally, high-powered superstars secure the honor of singing "The Star-Spangled Banner." Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Lada Gaga and Neil Diamond did so in years past. The NFL announced Thursday that Knight is scheduled to sing the national anthem before in pre-kickoff festivities at the 53rd Super Bowl, on February 3 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, her hometown.įor her part, Knight tweeted joyfully a day earlier than the fan post: "Atlanta, I'm coming home!" CNN reported the dustup. Asking "Where is the solidarity?," one fan of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick-turned-civil rights influencer blasted legendary singer Gladys Knight for planning to sing the national anthem before the 2019 Super Bowl.
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