Gladys Knight Responds To Backlash After Agreeing To Sing The National Anthem At The Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is right around the corner, and I’m pumped. Of course I hope that my beloved Patriots go all the way, but you never know. We’ll see what happens today. Either way, I’m watching the game and fully intend on enjoying every minute of it. I still haven’t figured out what my Super Bowl spread should be, so if you have any suggestions, lay ’em on me!

ANYWAY. It sounds like Gladys Knight will sing that national anthem that big night, but some people have decided to give her a hard time for that. (We’re talking about the same people who are still annoyed at the NFL for refusing to take a hardline stance and support Colin Kaepernick.)

Knight’s response was nothing short of perfection.

“I understand that Mr. Kaepernick is protesting two things and they are police violence and injustice,” she said in a statement.” 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 each stand alone.”

THANK YOU. You can express your misguided grievances on your own time, but don’t you DARE disrespect our men and women who serve this country by kneeling during the national anthem. Kaepernick and his brain dead followers should’ve NEVER used the national anthem to promote their “cause.” It was jacked up then, and it’s jacked up now.

Knight ultimately said that she hopes her performance will UNITE our country.

“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, from walking back hallways, from marching with our social leaders, from using my voice for good,” she said.

“I have been in the forefront of this battle longer than most of those voicing their opinions to win the right to sing our country’s Anthem on a stage as large as the Super Bowl LIII,” she continued. “No matter who chooses to deflect with this narrative and continue to mix these two in the same message, it is not so and cannot be made so by anyone speaking it.”

“I pray that this National Anthem will bring us all together in a way never before witnessed and we can move forward and untangle these truths which mean so much to all of us,” she added.

Awesome.

h/t TMZ