Over the weekend, the “Fight of the Century” took place in Vegas, between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, and Jamie Foxx was booked for the opening number, performing the Star-Spangled Banner, aka the National Anthem.
As you can see in the second video available below, his rendition was anything but impressive, because he was mostly out of synch with the organ and he added a few elements that Americans at home believed didn’t fit, like the Halleluiah at the end.
Consequently, Foxx was viciously criticized and mocked on social media, with some even saying that the real fight wasn’t between the two champs, but between Foxx and the Anthem. Some even suggested he should never sing again, in public or in private.
If you too thought that Foxx sucked, it’s ok: he did too. The actor and singer stopped by The Ellen DeGeneres show the other day, and he also talked about the hubbub around his Vegas performance. He blamed the inferior quality on technical issues (his “ears came out”), which meant he couldn’t hear what the organ was playing.
In the ring, he sounded good, he continued saying, but the people at home, watching the telecast, couldn’t hear what those in the audience had heard.
“So some of it was a little off, but in the arena it killed. The telecast was a little off. But ya know we still love America!” he said. Not that anyone doubted that last part.
Jamie Foxx's national anthem had more twists and turns than the fight. #MayPac
— Funny Tweets™ (@Lmao) May 3, 2015
I actually like Jamie Foxx as a singer...but lastnight was pretty damn funny lmao!!!! Did he sing hallelujah at the end???
— Robert Glasper (@robertglasper) May 3, 2015
Hey how come no one arrests Jamie Foxx for his anthem?
— martin nievera (@4eversinging4u) May 3, 2015
Jamie foxx still think he in RAY pic.twitter.com/ZiHQ8RMn4Y
— Young Platinum (@YoungPlatinum) May 3, 2015
Mariah Carey and Beyoncé were in the building and you ask Jamie foxx to sing 😂😂😂
— Pamela Donea Bolanos (@pammerrrr) May 3, 2015
Jamie Foxx tho lmao, I'm not over that national anthem yet.
— The Peoples Champ. (@DamierGenesis) May 3, 2015
Still can't believe Jamie Foxx said "hallelujah" after singing 😂
— moe (@_shelae) May 3, 2015
I don't know what ppl are talking about... @MannyPacquiao & @FloydMayweather won tonight ($$). Only Jamie Foxx lost on that anthem..
— George Whitfield Jr. (@georgewhitfield) May 3, 2015
We all know who really lost here..... Jamie Foxx's singing career.
— Łëx (@savagelexxx) May 3, 2015
yo why they make jamie foxx sing the anthem wHEN BEYONCE RIGHT THERE
— FANTASIA (@HlMUP) May 3, 2015
Let's all take a moment to remember how bad Jamie Foxx's Star-Spangled Banner was.
— Suzanne Davis (@SoozieCuzie) May 3, 2015
Vocally Jamie Foxx wasn't bad but I'm confused why it sounded like church
— ambbbb™ (@amb_lester) May 3, 2015
Think they were both thrown and confused by what JamieFoxx did #PacquiaoMayweather
— Gareth Morrison (@GarethDMorrison) May 3, 2015
Oprah watching Jamie Foxx DESTROY our National Anthem. #MayPac pic.twitter.com/I6ViGVF9SX
— Karri-Leigh (@karri_leigh) May 3, 2015
When you hear Jamie Foxx sing the National Anthem pic.twitter.com/EDHRnCRem7
— Eli Braden (@EliBraden) May 3, 2015
The real fight was between Jamie Foxx and the national anthem pic.twitter.com/WlcyD9nkD3
— Prince (@PrinceTaylor98) May 3, 2015
😭😭😭😭 RT @YourFavoriteZoe: Jamie Foxx was like... #MayPac pic.twitter.com/ae7h0AcJUl
— A$AP Roxanne (@HersheysChriss) May 3, 2015
Jamie Foxx killed the national anthem. And by killed it I mean it was like road kill. #PacWins
— Dustin Belt (@dbeltwrites) May 3, 2015
In a surprise finish, the national anthem knocked out Jamie Foxx. #MayPac pic.twitter.com/VEh96iXFrZ
— Diane N. Sevenay (@Diane_7A) May 3, 2015
Currently launching a Kickstarter to pay Jamie Foxx to never sing in public again. #MayPac
— Peter Shankman (@petershankman) May 3, 2015