Singer John Legend: National Anthem Racist, 'Weak Song'

"My vote is for America the Beautiful"

8.31.2016

Music icon John Legend has come out in defense of 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's refusal to stand during the national anthem by characterizing it as a "weak song" with racist overtures.

"My vote is for America the Beautiful," wrote Legend. "Star Spangled Banner is a weak song anyway. And then you read this ..."

While "America the Beautiful" may or may not be a better song than the "Star Spangled Banner," that's no reason not to stand during its oration. As for the song's supposed "racism," Legend based that off a tweet from The Intercept, whose linked piece stated: "No one seems to be aware that our national anthem literally celebrates the murder of African-Americans."

When folks characterized Legend as a hypocrite for blasting the national anthem while having previously sung it at the 2016 NBA Finals, he said that his eyes have now been opened to History's awful truth.

Or perhaps Legend doesn't know history at all. He served as Executive Producer on the latest Barack Obama fluff film Southside With You that creates a highly romanticized, saccharine love story between the soon-to-be former President and Michelle Obama on their first date.