Michael Strahan has broken his silence following uproar over his national anthem stand.
The US national anthem is unquestionably patriotic, and if you don’t listen to/sing it in a certain way, you’ll most likely face backlash on social media.
Strahan received internet criticism for his posture during Fox’s special football coverage from Naval Base San Diego on Sunday (10 November).
During the national anthem, his colleagues were shown with their hands over their hearts, but Strahan was captured with his hands linked at his waist.
READ MORE: Inside The NFL’s All-Media Blitz: Roger Goodell’s Ascension To Hollywood
Some took to social media to criticize Strahan for how he presented himself during the ‘Star Spangled Banner,’ with the TV presenter and journalist noting that the outrage had’spilled over’ so much that he felt compelled to address it on Instagram.
Strana stated that he was not protesting anything when the cameras were filming, but rather was ‘caught up in the moment’ while the national anthem was played.
He began his Instagram post with, “I have nothing to protest, no statement to make.”
“The only remark I want to make is that I adore the military. I’ve always loved the military, and I will always love it.
READ MORE: Roseanne Barr’s Anthem Is Still The #1 Train Wreck… Back Off Ingrid, Haters
“I participate in a variety of programs that assist veterans and military. My father was an army major, and I grew up on a military base. My brother, sister, and cousins have all served in the military; I am a military brat.
“And so the fact of somebody saying that, you know, I’m unpatriotic, couldn’t be any further from the truth.”
Strahan went on to add that the ‘amazing scene’ he observed distracted him.
“I start to panic, thinking, ‘Do I be the fool who puts his hand over his heart afterward, or do I just stand here with my hand in front of me respectfully?'” That is exactly what I did, and that is what happened,” he explained.
Strahan was once approached outside his home by a Daily Mail writer and asked for comment.
The TV presenter snatched and flung the reporter’s phone away.
Strahan was ‘not proud’ of his actions during the incident, but he felt compelled to ‘defend’ his family and house in that situation.
“I felt compelled to do that at the time,” Strahan explained.
Radiant TV, offering to elevate your entertainment game! Movies, TV series, exclusive interviews, music, and more—download now on various devices, including iPhones, Androids, smart TVs, Apple TV, Fire Stick, and more.
