Jamie Foxx Blames National Anthem Performance On Ear Pieces?
Singer Jamie Foxx has finally broken his silence on the negative backlash and criticism that he received after singing the U.S. National Anthem on Saturday night.
The performance took place in the center of the ring shortly before the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao “fight of the century” began.
Jamie Foxx blames equipment failure for #MayPac National Anthem performance: http://t.co/BV5crctunw pic.twitter.com/099xHYIzpd
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) May 5, 2015
According to Foxx, his overall vocal performance was not to blame for the technical issues that arose. In an interview with Access Hollywood, the 47-year-old “Blame It” singer discussed a last-minute situation that occurred with his ear pieces.
“We had a little bit of a situation with our ear pieces. The [ear] pack actually dropped off, so I couldn’t, you know … I can’t hear what’s playing. So I just had to go on my own. Hopefully they understand. It’s just the National Anthem.”
The ear piece “situation” may have been to blame for the off-beat and off-key singing that was targeted almost immediately by social media users. Before explaining those technical issues, though, Jamie Foxx had a direct message to share with the people that may have blown it all out of proportion.
“First of all, everybody calm down.”
Foxx later explained his beliefs that the negative backlash that erupted from his performance was primarily caused by the undeniable need for a discussion topic.
“I think, a little bit was just people wanted to have something to talk about. But everything’s cool.”
Jamie Foxx even joked during the same interview that “The Star-Spangled Banner” would be added to his upcoming studio album, Hollywood: A Story of a Dozen Roses, and that he would be able to take a few creative liberties with the country’s national anthem.
“The National Anthem will be on my album. And I’m gonna do whatever the hell I want to.”
Even though there were a lot of negative comments blaming Jamie Foxx for his performance problems on Saturday night, another person seemed to receive the majority of the blame — the organist.
Um, that really wasn’t very bad at all: http://t.co/eOlRLJ00hO Not my type of thing, but take away the organ and he was fine.
— Kennethinavolgimaski (@skunkwerks16) May 5, 2015
Jamie Foxx can sing I’m blaming it on the organ. The organ was out of key. And that’s what happened.
— Freezy (@missfree) May 3, 2015
On the discordance between the organ & Jamie Foxx in the National Anthem on Saturday, @GinaGrad “I think the organ panicked.”
— Gina Grad’s Asides (@GinaAside) May 5, 2015
Jamie Foxx vs that organ #BetterFightsThanMayPac
— Jeannie Mai (@jeanniemai) May 3, 2015
Recent reports are claiming that Floyd Mayweather has agreed to fight Manny Pacquiao again in a rematch. Perhaps Jamie Foxx (and the organist) will be giving an opportunity for redemption whenever that time comes around.
[Image Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images]
