Flavor Flav’s performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a Milwaukee Bucks game on Sunday wasn’t the trainwreck some viewers expected it to be, but it still received mixed reactions from the internet. Amid the controversy, on Monday, the Flavor of Love star took to social media to explain why the moment was so important to him.
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“It may seem odd for Flavor Flav, a member of Public Enemy to do the National Anthem,” he wrote on X. “But I had family that served in the United States military and I wanted to honor them.”
He went on to reveal that the performance was a tribute to the members of his family who served in the military, a common motivation for many national anthem singers.
“I had family that fought in World War 2. My dad was in the army. They fought for the land that we live on, and some of them didnt make it back,” he continued. “So when I was singing it, I was thinking about them and the advancements we have made in our community that I can perform the anthem.”
No one is claiming Flav did great vocally. However, he clearly took it seriously and it meant something to him. He wasn’t in his over-the-top “Yeah boy!” persona. He was just an American citizen who wanted to honor his family and country by singing the anthem at an NBA game.
If someone is disrespectful or does something weird with the song (yes, I’m talking about Fergie at the 2028 NBA All-Star Game), we’re going to have fun getting our jokes off. However, if it’s just a person who sincerely tried their best and did so with grace and respect, there’s no need to shit all over their effort.
I understand that Flav doesn’t have the best reputation, and we all know to expect the worst from the internet. But this seems like one of those times where everyone just needs to calm down and move along to the next trend on the timeline.
Straight From 
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