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The National Football League (NFL) announced Thursday that Gladys Knight would sing the national anthem at Super Bowl 53 in Atlanta, Knight's home town.
Given her past as a long-time human rights activist, questions were raised about her position on the controversy surrounding quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who was essentially blackballed in the league after kneeling under the national anthem.
Aged 74, Empress of Soul issued a pbadionate statement to Variety, clarifying her position on Kaepernick while stating that she intended to "make the anthem anew."
Statement by Gladys: Gladys Knight, singer of the national anthem of the Super Bowl 53, unveils her point of view on the demonstration of Colin Kaepernick and declares to want to "give the floor to the hymn"
"I understand that Mr. Kaepernick is protesting against two things. It's police violence and an injustice, began Knight's statement.
"It is unfortunate that our national anthem has been drawn into this debate while the distinctive meanings of the national anthem and the struggle for justice should be independent of one another", she added.
"I'm here today and Sunday, February 3 to give the floor back to the anthem, to defend this historic word choice, the way it unites us when we hear it and to free him from the same prejudices and struggles that I have fought long and hard all my life, whether to walk in the corridors, to walk with our social leaders, to use my voice for good ", she said.
Kaepernick's protest: "I understand that Mr Kaepernick is protesting against two things. It's about police violence and injustice, started Knight's statement
"I have been at the forefront of this battle for longer than most of those who have expressed their opinion of winning the right to sing the hymn of our country on a stage as big as the Super Bowl LIII, "she said.
"No matter who chooses to deviate with this story and continue to mix these two in the same message, this is not the case and no one can say it," Knight continued.
"I pray that this national anthem will bring us all together in a way never before seen and that we can go ahead and unravel those truths that are so important to us all," concluded Knight.
In the foreground: "I have been at the forefront of this battle for longer than most of those who have expressed their opinion of winning the right to sing the national anthem on a stage as big as the Super Bowl LIII," she said.
The Super Bowl 53 has already been controversial because of its half-time show, which was confirmed by the participation of Maroon 5, as well as rappers Travis Scott and Big Boi.
The involvement of Scott and Big Boi has been controversial in light of Kaepernick's. The former 49ers quarterback actually consulted Scott before he made his decision, according to Variety.
Scott, who frequents reality star Kylie Jenner, has had at least one phone conversation with Kaepernick and, although neither party has agreed on the position of the other, they would have apparently "respected and understood each other". Scott also donated $ 500,000 to the non-profit social justice organization Dream Corps.
Super Bowl Artists: The Super Bowl 53 has already been controversial because of its half-time show, which has been confirmed as including Maroon 5, as well as rappers Travis Scott and Big Boi.
Kaepernick's companion, Nessa Dias, challenged the report, referring to Twitter: "There is NO mutual respect and there is NO understanding for those who work against @ Kaepernick7 PERIOD. # stop lying. & # 39;
After the rumor of Travis Scott's participation in the halftime show was leaked, it was reported that Jay-Z had tried to dissuade him, while Meek Mill and Reverend Al Sharpton publicly criticized him for accepting the post.
After the half-time show was closed, a Change.org petition was formed asking the three artists to kneel during their performance, which has more than 86,000 signatures.
Position statement: "No matter who chooses to deviate with this story and continue to mix these two in the same message, this is not the case and no one can say it," Knight continued.
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