BlackNews.com
Nationwide — Singer Laurin Talese performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at the Philadelphia Eagles’ season opener, sparking backlash from NFL fans who criticized the song, dubbed the Black National Anthem, as divisive and disrespectful to the country.
Talese, a jazz artist and lifelong Eagles supporter, took the field before the Thursday night clash against the Dallas Cowboys, according to the Daily Mail. While the anthem has become a recurring feature at NFL events, including the Super Bowl and Draft, many fans in Philadelphia and online voiced anger over its presence.
Inside Lincoln Financial Field, the crowd’s chatter nearly drowned out Talese’s performance. On social media, critics blasted the league for continuing with what they called a “DEI anthem.” One viewer wrote, “Here we go with the DEI ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ anthem. Ridiculous. Sing the national anthem!” Others called the moment “a disgrace to the NFL and USA.”
Some fans said the issue was not the song itself, but the poor sound quality. Several posts complained that Talese’s voice was muffled despite using a microphone. “The person responsible for the sound mix on this ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ should be fired,” one user wrote, while another claimed the NFL “disrespected the hell out of the woman singing.”
Talese, who has lived in Philadelphia for more than two decades, described the opportunity as a personal honor. Ahead of the game, she told the Eagles she was thrilled to represent the city and finally experience a live game as a performer.
This was not the first time “Lift Every Voice and Sing” stirred controversy. A choral rendition at the NFL Draft in Green Bay earlier this year drew backlash, with some fans mocking it as “gentrified.” The song also sparked debate at February’s Super Bowl, though singer Ledisi’s rendition received widespread praise.