UPDATED (7:20 p.m. PT):Updated to include statement from the group
Politics and current events managed to find their way into Tuesday night's Major League Baseball All-Star Game in San Diego when a quartet singing "O Canada" changed some lyrics and injected the phrase "all lives matter."
The backlash was swift and fierce.
SEE ALSO:Beyoncé on Alton Sterling, Philando Castile's deaths: 'This is a human fight'The Tenors, a Canadian quartet, performed the anthem prior to the game. The group replaced the lines, "With glowing hearts we see thee rise / The True North strong and free!" with "We're all brothers and sisters / All Lives Matter to the brave."
Tweet may have been deleted
In addition to the change, one of the singers, later identified as Remigio Pereira, held up a sign that read "All Lives Matter." Though the anthem wasn't televised in the United States as part of Fox's coverage, it was aired in Canada and people inside the stadium confirmed the sign.
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Later Tuesday night, The Tenors issued a statement apologizing for the "disrespectful and misguided lack of judgement" by the group's Remigio Pereira, described as a "lone wolf" by the statement. Pereira will not be performing with the group until further notice.
Tweet may have been deleted
Pereira also took to Twitter Tuesday night to try to explain what motivated him to do it.
Tweet may have been deleted
But it was too little, too late. The backlash began as soon as the song aired, Twitter users calling the group out for not only changing the lyrics but for the "All Lives Matter" message, which has taken on a negative connotation in the U.S. as it's often used as a rebuttal from those opposing the Black Lives Matter movement.
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Canada has been embroiled in a debate this year over proposed changes to "O Canada" that would make the anthem gender neutral, but those changes have not been fully approved yet nor did The Tenors' version include the proposed switch.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
(责任编辑:百科)
Tesla's rumored P100D could make Ludicrous mode even more Ludicrous
PlayStation Now game streaming is coming to PC
Metallica to seek and destroy your eardrums with new album this fall