Image by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images

Nobody has failed at the National Anthem in quite the way Fergie did on Sunday night at the NBA All-Star’s Game. Usually, failing at the National Anthem involves missing a high note or forgetting the words or some other totally relatable human flub like that.

Fergie’s fail was … unique. Her performance was filled with confidence and there was no mistaking that look on her face at the end for anything other than pride.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Watching Fergie’s version of the National Anthem was like watching your funniest friend mimicking Arianna Grande mimicking Christina Aguilera. It was like watching the class bully mocking the theater kids.

But was it worse than Roseanne Barr’s performance?

Barr seems to think so.

Who saw Fergie’s national anthem performance at the NBA All Star Game? I think mine was better lowkey

— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) February 19, 2018

Barr’s famous performance went down at Jack Murphy field in July 1990. The comedian shrieked our country’s sacred anthem, emphasizing her complete and total lack of respect for the socially constructed concept of a nation by grabbing her crotch. George HW Bush later called the performance “disgraceful.”

Of course, comparing Fergie’s performance with Barr’s is like comparing apples and oranges – Barr seemed to know exactly what she was doing throughout the duration of her performance.

Meanwhile, Fergie’s performance had me concerned about her mental state.

Regardless of which performance you think needs more work, it just might be that these are the National Anthems America deserves right now.

Becky Scott is the editor of The Schmooze. Follow her on Twitter, @arr_scott

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount