NFL Kickoff Game between Chiefs and Ravens. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Fans are calling for a boycott of the NFL following Thursday night’s kickoff game between the Chiefs and Ravens.
The AFC rivals faced off in an entertaining affair that ended with a potential game-tying play being scrubbed because of a foot on the line. However, the fixture also proved frustrating at the start due to multiple early flags.
Another point of contention was that the Black national anthem, ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing,’ was sung before ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’
Tasha Cobbs Leonard, a Grammy Award-winning artist, sang said anthem at Arrowhead Stadium ahead of the game.
Grammy Award winner, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, will perform Lift Every Voice at this Thursday's home opener. pic.twitter.com/06GwtppPTq
— GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (@GEHAField) September 3, 2024
Black National Anthem Being Performed Ahead Of Fixture Between Chiefs And Ravens Sparked Outrage
There was some outrage after it was announced that the song would be performed before the Chiefs and Ravens squared off. NFL teams began including it after the murder of George Floyd in 2020, and it has been performed before the Super Bowl every year since.
Of course, some fans are for it, but based on last night’s reactions, most are against it.
Many fans are upset that the NFL started its season by playing the Black National Anthem before the Star-Spangled Banner last night at the #Ravens vs. #Chiefs Game.
"Boycott the NFL" is trending.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 6, 2024
“Just stop watching the stupid NFL, the problem will solve itself,” one vented.
“Even the black players are underwhelmed lol,” someone added.
“Dumbest s**t I’ve ever witnessed!” one person wrote.
“Why don’t just have one anthem. We are all Americans lol,” another suggested.
“Yeah, why can’t we have one anthem. The National anthem is for every American. All these other anthems are try to make us divided,” one comment read.
While the anthem’s inclusion has been met with rife criticism, it’s highly unlikely that NFL football will experience any boycott this season. The song being removed from gameday programs is also unlikely.
