A low-blow.
Wrestling fans in Canada booed the Star Spangled Banner at a WWE wrestling match on Saturday night — with commentator Pat McAfee calling Canada “terrible,” in a rant after the national diss.
American singer Elizabeth Irving performed the anthem ahead of the WWE showcase Saturday night — and was met with a loud downpour of boos and jeers from the crowd at Toronto’s Rogers Centre.
The boos continued throughout the entirety of the performance of the National Anthem — becoming loudest when Irving sang the line “and the rocket’s red glare.”
ESPN’s Pat McAfee, who was at the announcer’s desk for the “Elimination Chamber” event, took umbrage with the display of disrespect.
“This is the most stacked Elimination Chamber that the WWE has ever had,” McAfee said on the Peacock-aired broadcast.
“Kinda sucks that it’s in the terrible country of Canada that booed our national anthem to start this entire thing,” McAfee shouted, rising from his chair in anger.
The boos in Toronto are the latest instance of Canadian outrage that has been repeatedly expressed at sporting events since President Trump threatened to levy heavy tariffs on goods from the nation, which he derisively called the “51st State.”
During the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off exhibition tournament last month, Canadians booed the Star-Spangled Banner as the US national team prepared to play the Canadian national team.
Angry Canadians first booed the national anthem back on Feb. 1, at an Ottawa Senators’ game days after President Trump first threatened tariffs.