Former National Football League (NFL) star Michael Strahan, who works as an NFL analyst and host of “Good Morning America,” has issued an apology after he received backlash for allegedly being “disrespectful” by not holding his hand over his heart during the playing of the “The Star-Spangled Banner” during a pre-Veterans Day Fox broadcast on Sunday.
Sharing a picture of Strahan holding his hands in front of him instead of holding his hand over his heart during the National Anthem, Newsmax host Todd Starnes tweeted, “Michael Strahan disrespected the military during a Veterans Day pre-game show on @NFLonFOX. The great irony is Strahan on a ship surrounded by men and women who would willingly sacrifice their lives to protect his freedom. So, his behavior is not just repugnant, it’s downright cowardly.”
Following intense backlash across social media for the way he stood during the National Anthem, Strahan released a video message on Instagram explaining that he was not engaging in any sort of protest by not holding his hand over his heart.
“The only statement that should be made and that I wanna make is that I love the military,” Strahan said in the video. “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,” Strahan added. “And so the fact of somebody saying that, you know, I’m unpatriotic, couldn’t be any further from the truth.”
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The NFL analyst claimed that he was “caught up in the moment” during Sunday’s special pre-Veterans Day broadcast. Strahan said he was looking around at all the U.S. Navy sailors and was standing in “amazement” that the young service members were willing to “commit to something” that allows Americans to enjoy their freedom.
Strahan explained that by the time he realized what was happening, the National Anthem was playing, and his fellow Fox hosts already had their hands over their hearts. He said, “I somewhat panic, and I’m like, ‘Do I be the fool that puts his hand over his heart after, or do I just stand here with my hand in front of me respectfully?’ Which, that’s what I did, that’s what happened.”
“If that offended any of our military and veterans, I apologize to you because that was never my intent. I’m a product of the military, a proud lover of the military, and a proud lover of all those who served before, now, and who will serve in the future.” Strahan concluded.
