The statue of Kate Smith concealed in Philadelphia while the singer of "God Bless America" ​​faces a new examination

The Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL joined the New York Yankees on baseball on Friday to end Kate Smith's rendition of "God Bless America" ​​at home games because of the lyrics contained in d & # 39, other songs recorded by the last singer.

The Flyers have also concealed a statue of Smith installed at the sports complex of Philadephia since 1987.

"We have recently learned that several songs performed by Kate Smith contain offensive lyrics that do not reflect our values ​​as an organization," the Flyers said in a statement. "As we continue to examine this serious issue, we remove from our library the recording of Kate Smith's" God Bless America "and cover up the statue that is outside our arena."

Smith's statue was posted outside the old Spectrum arena in Philadelphia in 1987 and was relocated nearby when the arena was demolished in 2011.

Smith, who died in 1986 at the age of 79, has long been regarded as an American icon, largely because of her association with "God Bless America," the Irving Berlin song of 1918 that She recorded in 1939.

"At the height of her career, during the Second World War, she was repeatedly named one of the three or four most popular women in America," according to the New York Times Smith obituary . "No actor in the show even contacted her as a war bond seller during World War 2. During an 18-hour visit on the CBS radio network, Miss Smith said sold for $ 107 million of war bonds, issued by the US Government to fund the war effort.A total for a series of marathon issues exceeded $ 600 million. "

Smith received President Ronald Reagan's Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1982.

But recently, the Yankees learned that Smith had sung a 1931 song entitled "That's why Darkies were born," which opened: "Someone had to pick cotton, Someone had to pick corn , Someone had to be a slave and be able to sing why darkies were born. "

The song was considered a satire of racism at the time, with civil rights activist Paul Robeson also recording a version.

Smith also recorded a song called "Pickaninny Heaven", and his portrait appeared in a pastry advertisement featuring a "mammy" character.

The Flyers played the Smith version of "God Bless America" ​​before the games must win since 1969, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. His record in these games was 101-31-5. She did her restitution in person before the team won the Stanley Cup in 1974.

The Yankees played Smith's "God Bless America" ​​before the seventh inning for 18 years. The team pulled the song after a fan informed them about the lyrics, the New York Times reported.

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The removal of the Smith version comes as American icons have received increased attention. In recent years, some have claimed that John Wayne Airport, in Southern California, is renamed after a social media hustle after an interview with Playboy in 1971. In the interview, Wayne made some remarks against Amerindians and African Americans, often considered racist.

But Jack Fowler, a vice president of the National Review, said Friday that the Yankees and Flyers were going too far to ban Smith.

"(L) while she was not lifting up the dough to crush fascism, Smith was visiting the soldiers," Fowler writes, citing the Times' obituary article that Smith had "traveled close to 520,000 km to entertain the American troops ".

"It's the equivalent of 130 times in the world," he added. "While the Yankees were playing baseball and were charged after the game."

Associated Press contributed to this report.