Fergie Apologizes for NBA All-Star National Anthem: 'I Love This Country and Honestly Tried My Best’ pic.twitter.com/ufp189azCN
— People (@people) February 20, 2018
Fergie has apologized after people took to social media in droves to declare that her performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game was the worst rendition of all time. “I’ve always been honored and proud to perform the National Anthem and last night I wanted to try something special for the NBA,” she said in a statement “I’m a risk taker artistically, but clearly this rendition didn’t strike the intended tone.” She added, “I love this country and honestly tried my best.” Fergie’s rendition of the anthem was very slow and jazzy. During her performance, celebrities like Chance the Rapper, Jimmy Kimmel and Tyler Perry were spotted looking thoroughly confused. Meanwhile, NBA commentator Charles Barkley was so baffled that he asked his fellow panelists if they could talk about what they’d just seen. “Oh, stop, don’t do that. Leave my Fergie alone,” Shaquille O’Neal responded. “Fergie, I love you. It was different, it was sexy.” Undeterred, Barkley declared, “Damn right it was different.”