Michael Strahan Explains Why He Didn't Put His Hand Over His Heart for 'Star-Spangled Banner'
Michael Strahan was caught up in controversy this past weekend when he was seen not holding his hand over his heart during “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
This past weekend, to celebrate Veteran’s Day, the NFL on Fox hosts took part in an early celebration where the song played. His not putting his hand on his heart was seen as a protest or a slight.
Keep reading to find out more…
“I wanna address what happened this past weekend, and I feel like I need to address it, because it spilled over to the point where I’d get out of my car today, and I’m ambushed by a media outlet here at my house,” Michael shared on Instagram.
He then seemingly addressed reports that he threw a reporter’s cell phone in a bush when asked about the controversy.
He shared, “I’m not proud of the way I handled that whole situation. But I think anybody out there can understand the things you’re going to do, you’re going to protect your family and you’re going to protect your home, which is what I felt like I needed to do in that moment.”
He then addressed the “protest” moment, and said it was completely the opposite.
“I have nothing to protest, I have no statement to be made. The only statement that should be made that I want to make is I love the military, I’ve always loved the military and I will always love the military. I do so many programs to help veterans and soldiers. I grew up on a military base with a father who was a major in the army. My brother, my sister, my cousins, they all served in the military — I’m a military brat,” he shared. “And so the fact of somebody saying that, you know, I’m unpatriotic, couldn’t be any further from the truth.”
About why he didn’t put his hand over his heart when the music began, he said it was because he was “caught up in the moment.” When he realized his error, he didn’t want to quickly rectify it and look like “the fool” in the moment.
Find out which celebrities served in the military.