This can’t be the support that Gladys Knight wants.
Conservatives are praising the R&B icon for agreeing to perform at the Super Bowl and saying, “It is unfortunate that our national anthem has been dragged into this debate.”
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A Fox News writer has an opinion piece titled “Gladys Knight, a freedom-loving patriot, takes a stand in defense of the national anthem.” He writes, “I don’t know much about Gladys Knight’s politics, but I do know that she’s a freedom-loving patriot.” He continued, “She also called out those who have been trying to score cheap political points by disgracing the ‘Star Spangled Banner.'”
The writer is referencing this statement from the 74-year-old, “I am here today and on Sunday, Feb. 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… 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 stand alone.” The lines appears a direct dig to Colin Kaepernick who famously knelled during the song in response to police brutality and was then banned from the NFL.
In case you missed it, pop band Maroon 5 agreed to perform at the Super Bowl in February and allegedly asked several Black artists to perform with them. Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Andre 3000, Cardi B, Usher and Nicki Minaj all reportedly said no. Rihanna gave a hard no back in October and even P!nk declined. But when Travis Scott said yes, the rapper was promptly trampled by social media. Variety.com reported that two sources were claiming that Jay Z was reaching out to Scott to tell him not to perform. Even Maroon 5 was hit with backlash through a Change.org petition, which had more than 75,000 signatures begging them not to perform.
It’s not only the treatment of Kaepernick, but the the rich white men at the Super Bowl and CBS, including the creepy Les Moonves (who attempted to destroy Janet Jackson’s career over a wardrobe malfunction in 2004, letting Justin Timberlake walked away unscathed). The Hollywood Reporter says that Travis Scott demanded the NFL make a charitable donation to a “social justice” cause for him to perform. No word on what this “cause” was.
In addition, Variety.com reported, “Scott and Kaepernick had at least one phone conversation before the rapper confirmed his Super Bowl appearance, sources tell Variety. A source close to Scott said that while the two did not necessarily agree, they emerged from the conversation with mutual respect and understanding, with the rapper taking the stance that everyone makes a statement in their own way and he felt that the money going toward Dream Corps, combined with the platform provided by the Super Bowl, will do some good.”
Nessa Diab, Kaepernick’s girlfriend, said this was a complete lie, tweeting, “There is NO mutual respect and there is NO understanding for anyone working against @Kaepernick7 PERIOD. #stoplying.”
Knight is receiving significant backlash for agreeing to perform.
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