ICYMI, Fergie went solo to perform the National Anthem at the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night. Let’s just say the singer’s rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” was anything but fergalicious, and it resulted in a wave of online criticism.
During her two-and-a-half-minute performance, Fergie’s exaggerated and intentionally raspy vocals caused several listeners to let out a laugh, including basketball player Draymond Green and audience member Chance the Rapper. While some social media critics compared Fergie’s anthem to Marilyn Monroe’s sexy song, “Happy Birthday Mr. President,” I can’t help but be reminded of the Saturday Night Live skit of Maya Rudolph mockingly singing the National Anthem.
#Fergie’s #NationalAnthem be like… pic.twitter.com/l9PnlfcKFL
— Kevin Surma (@KevinSurma) February 19, 2018
Shaquille O’Neal called Fergie’s rendition “sexy,” while Charles Barkley said, “I need a cigarette after that.” As always, Twitter had so many words to say about all the grunts, screeches and purposefully shaky vocal cords. Some users went as far as to say that this is the worst rendition of the National Anthem ever.
I think #Fergie united the nation! I’ve never seen everyone on Twitter agree how bad something was. #NationalAnthem
— Ben Rains (@Brains180) February 19, 2018
FROM NOW ON: When you fail at something while demonstrating an insane level of confidence, you must say “I Fergged up” #fergie #NationalAnthem
— Kendahl Culpepper (@Cul_world) February 19, 2018
Big girls may not cry, but they sure do sing the national anthem like shit. #Fergie #fergienationalanthem
— Barry Laminack (@BarryIsFunny) February 19, 2018
#Fergie singing the national anthem… pic.twitter.com/K8G8lXmq21
— radboyseby (@radboyseby) February 19, 2018
The United States may not agree on much, but can we all just agree, as a nation, to sing the National Anthem conventionally?