Musician Rachel Platten blasted for ‘fake crying’ after singing the National Anthem at the Vikings-Rams game

Rachel Platten, widely known for her popular song “Fight Song,” has come under fire for her passionate performance of the national anthem before the Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams Wild Card playoff game.

Platten’s tears after performing the anthem, intended to memorialize the victims of the terrible Los Angeles wildfires, turned the performance contentious. Many internet viewers, however, were skeptical about her tears, accusing the singer of faking them for the cameras.

The Rams players invited Platten to sing an impassioned version of the national anthem as they walked the field. Platten’s performance footage shows her extremely distressed, with tears streaming down her cheeks as she sings the last chords.

Her impassioned presentation occurred after a heartbreaking week for Los Angeles citizens, who continue to suffer devastating losses as a result of the infernos.

Despite the serious tone of the occasion, several social media users criticized Platten’s performance as overdramatic and questioned the validity of her emotions. A video of her performance rapidly went viral on the social networking site X (previously Twitter), with users leaving comments to convey their impressions.

“Rachel Platten should not perform the National Anthem again and that dramatic cry in the camera…give me a break,” a commenter stated. Another commenter agreed: “Rachel Platten’s [sic] fake crying after the national anthem was comedy.”

Some commenters criticized her singing talent, with one commenting, “Good message, but Rachel Platten sounds pretty bad…”

“Rachel Platten really can’t sing,” was another comment. Some people criticized Platten’s apparent emotional breakdown, with one person asking, “Did that lady just start fake crying after singing the National Anthem?”

Others accused her of not understanding the song’s lyrics; one person commented, “Does anyone genuinely know the words to the national anthem? Rachel Platten definitely doesn’t…

While the majority of responses were critical, a few individuals admitted that singing the national anthem is challenging for any artist. One commenter emphasized this point, writing, “You [sic] know singing the national anthem well isn’t something just anyone can do.”

However, the criticism did not end there. Another commenter addressed Rachel Platten’s pre-game performance, stating, “She performed her song ‘Fight Song’ before the game and also sang the anthem.” Girlfriend should not perform live [sic].”

Another social media user entered the discussion and asserted, “Rachel Platten definitely was using autotune on that song [sic].”

Platten’s performance was supposed to show unity and sympathy with those affected by the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles, but the criticism suggests that the moment did not land as planned.

Before Platten crossed the field to perform the national anthem, the Rams faced a critical playoff matchup against the Vikings. LA players wanted to give their community something to rally around after the wildfires, not just advance to the next round.

Rams safety Quentin Lake stated earlier this week that the Wild Card showdown was “more than just a game.” Interestingly, the Rams backed up that opinion with a dominant performance on both sides of the ball.

In addition to singing the national anthem, Platten performed her famous song “Fight Song” before the game. Platten wrote the song as a tribute to the firemen battling the unrelenting flames of Los Angeles. Platten had already announced her performances on her Instagram Story, expressing her delight and thanks for the chance to participate in the event.

Since its initial publication in 2015, the “Fight Song” has evolved into an anthem of empowerment and resistance. In a November 2023 interview, Platten discussed the song’s lasting appeal. She added that she had been traveling the country for 13 years before the song became a hit, and the success she received was “jarring and incredible.”

“I created ‘Fight Song’ for myself at a time when I had to decide whether to give up on my profession or not. The idea that that particular passion, that precise sentiment, was the thing that eventually helped my career explode did not escape me,” Platten added.

Even after so many years, the singer is appreciative of the song’s cultural significance. She discussed how newer generations are discovering the track through their parents.

“The most peculiar aspect for me is that it persists even after almost a decade; it’s the aspect I can’t shake off.” My friends’ girls are still discovering it, and it doesn’t seem to be diminishing in terms of cultural significance. “I’m just so grateful,” said the 43-year-old singer.