As a die-hard fan who has followed Michael Strahan‘s career from his days as a fearsome defensive end for the New York Giants to his successful stints on Live with Kelly and Michael and Good Morning America, I must say, I am not surprised by this recent controversy. The man is a giant among men, both literally and figuratively! However, I am glad he has addressed the issue head-on and clarified that it was not a political statement or protest.
Michael Strahan has spoken out about the discussion stirred by his decision not to place his hand over his heart during the National Anthem during the Fox NFL Sunday Veterans Day broadcast, addressing both the protest aspect and the incident involving a reporter’s phone he threw in a bush. In an Instagram post, he provided clarification on these matters.
Michael Strahan says National Anthem controversy not a political statement
View this post on InstagramA post shared by michaelstrahan (@michaelstrahan)
On November 10th, Strahan co-hosted the Veterans Day segment on Fox NFL Sunday at Naval Base San Diego. But the ex-New York Giant received criticism when he didn’t put his hand over his heart during the National Anthem. Some spectators took this as a symbol of protest against Donald Trump becoming the 45th President of the U.S. in recent elections.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Strahan clarified that his mistake during the National Anthem was not intended as a political statement or protest. On Instagram, Strahan himself explained this point.
“I have nothing to protest. I have no statement to be made. The only statement that should be made and that I want to make is that 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. And so the fact of somebody saying that, you know, I’m unpatriotic, couldn’t be any further from the truth.”
Strahan admitted that in the heat of the moment, he simply forgot to cover his heart when the National Anthem started. Afterward, he grappled with whether to do so late or remain standing until it ended, so as not to detract from the event or attract unwanted attention. In the end, he decided on the latter option out of respect for everyone else involved.
Strahan went on to apologize to anyone he offended:
If my words upset any military personnel or veterans, I sincerely apologize as it was not my intention. As someone deeply connected with the military, I hold great admiration for the military and everyone who serves, past, present, and future.
Regarding the occurrence on Tuesday when he tossed a Daily Mail journalist’s phone into some bushes near his residence, Strahan commented:
In that situation, it seemed crucial for me to safeguard my family and our dwelling. That was the action I felt compelled to take.
To date, Strahan hasn’t been given any official reprimand regarding either event. Whether directly confronting the controversy will quieten the criticisms surrounding both incidents is yet to be determined.
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2024-11-14 05:40