Boyz II Men Criticized for National Anthem Rendition at Eagles-Cowboys Season Opener
Three-piece Philadelphia group drew widespread social-media backlash during the NFL's opening-night game as Eagles player was ejected in a separate incident.
Boyz II Men's rendition of the U.S. national anthem before Thursday night's season-opening game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys drew heavy criticism from viewers on social media.
The three-piece group, who are from Philadelphia and are known as avid Eagles supporters, performed before millions of viewers tuned in for the opening night matchup. Vocal reaction on X ranged from disappointment to anger, with some users calling it the "worst national anthem ever" and others suggesting technical problems with the singers' in-ear monitors.
One user on X wrote, "This is the worst national anthem to ever start any sports season," while another posted, "I know how good Boyz II Men 'could've' done that. Holy s*** that hurt." A separate comment said the group sounded like "a church choir practicing" and speculated that the performers' ear pieces might not have been working properly.
The criticism came amid a widely watched and contentious opener in Philadelphia. Early in the game, Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter was ejected after an on-field incident in which he allegedly spat on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott before the snap, an action that league and team officials confirmed prompted Carter's removal from the contest. The ejection and subsequent attention to the incident drew further commentary and, according to some viewers, overshadowed the pregame performance.
Representatives for Boyz II Men did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The group, which rose to fame in the 1990s, has performed the national anthem at high-profile sporting events in the past and has long ties to the Philadelphia area.
Performances of the national anthem at major sporting events frequently draw immediate public reaction because of the large television audiences and real-time commentary on social platforms. Technical factors such as acoustics, stadium noise and monitoring can affect live vocal performances, and artists and event producers often face scrutiny when renditions differ from expectations.
The Eagles and Cowboys did not issue statements about the anthem performance. The NFL has in recent years overseen expanded pregame production and security protocols for season openers, and league officials have previously worked with performers and teams to coordinate logistics for national-anthem presentations.
Thursday's game will likely be remembered for both the on-field ejection and the social-media response to the musical performance. Fans and commentators on X continued to discuss both incidents through the night, underscoring how pregame and in-game moments can rapidly become focal points for viewers during marquee matchups.