Singer Jill Scott faced fierce pushback for her rendition of the national anthem in which she changed the lyrics.
Scott, 51, performed on July 1 at the Essence Festival, which celebrates the anniversary of the magazine, which is "100% black-owned," according to its website. Since the festival fell on the Fourth of July weekend, Scott opted to share her own anthem that she said she had written at 19 years old.
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Everyone please rise for the only National Anthem we will be recognizing from this day forward.
— ESSENCE (@Essence) July 5, 2023
Jill Scott, we thank you! #ESSENCEFest pic.twitter.com/WrYrP1nhTc
Her lyrics read: "Oh say can you see by the blood in the streets / That this place doesn’t smile on you colored child / Whose blood built this land with sweat and their hands / But we’ll die in this place and your memory erased / Oh say, does this truth hold any weight / This is not the land of the free, but the home of the slaves!"
"Everyone please rise for the only National Anthem we will be recognizing from this day forward," Essence tweeted Wednesday, days after the original performance. It was immediately met with a variety of responses.
"To call this a 'National Anthem' and ask people to 'rise' for it is really disgraceful," YouTuber Matt Antar wrote. "National anthems uplift — country they don’t put them down. Anyone rising or showing respect for this perversion of our national anthem is free to leave if it’s so horrible here."
To call this a “National Anthem” and ask people to “rise” for it is really disgraceful. National anthems uplift - country they don’t put them down. Anyone rising or showing respect for this perversion of our national anthem is free to leave if it’s so horrible here.
— Matt Antar (@mantarnyc) July 6, 2023
"If the United States is so oppressive to the black community then how are you wealthy and free to proclaim the racist garbage that you spout?" another user tweeted.
If the United States is so oppressive to the black community then how are you wealthy and free to proclaim the racist garbage that you spout?
— BoilingPoint Live (@RealBPL) July 7, 2023
Others showed their support for the singer, who has had a long career in rhythm and blues.
"Thank you, Jill the national anthem was amazing. You understood the assignment," one user wrote. "I am here for it always. I have always loved you as an artist. You have always stood for what is right, and I truly respect and admire you for it."
Thank you, Jill the national anthem was amazing. You understood the assignment. I am here for it always. I have always loved you as an artist. You have always stood for what is right, and I truly respect and admire you for it. pic.twitter.com/kpWm0hhbCI
— Pitt Pretty (she, her) (@aknative35) July 5, 2023
"1st -Thank you sincerely for your respect and appreciation," Scott tweeted in response. "I’m on path. 2ndly, with love, I am me in entirely; beautifully human, if some will OR won’t. I see so I write. I feel so I write. I write cuz I gotsto. I write life in multi spectrum-Highs, Lows & All."
1st -Thank you sincerely for your respect and appreciation ????. I’m on path????. 2ndly, with love, I am me in entirely; beautifully human, if some will OR won’t. I see so I write. I feel so I write. I write cuz I gotsto. I write life in multi spectrum-Highs, Lows & All. #here4it pic.twitter.com/55UOuBlDUb
— ⭐Jill Scott⭐ (@missjillscott) July 5, 2023
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Scott also paired the tweet with a meme that read, "That's the job, right?"
Recently, Scott has launched a new tour called “Who Is Jill Scott” to celebrate her 23rd anniversary in the music business. It began in February and was her first tour since 2020.