Anthem Singer From 49ers-Seahawks Game Finally Breaks Her Silence After Receiving Massive Amounts Of Backlash

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Canadian singer Cassandra DiFruscio spoke out this week after getting a lot of hate for singing the US national anthem at an NFL game in California.

DiFruscio performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Saturday’s game between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium. The moment aired just before kickoff and made a few unhappy.

Some fans praised her singing, but others were upset, mainly because she is Canadian. DiFruscio grew up in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, and now lives in Nashville. Critics questioned why a Canadian was chosen to sing the American anthem at an NFL game.

A few days later, DiFruscio responded in an interview with CTV News. She said she is moving on from the criticism and staying focused on her music.

“I’m just focused singing, and anthem performances can be emotional and subjective,” she told CTV News. “I’m definitely not the first person that people criticize for the anthem.”

DiFruscio Stays Focused Despite Online Anger

DiFruscio said the reaction online felt very different from what she experienced in the stadium. She said fans at Levi’s Stadium cheered loudly and showed her a lot of support. She also thanked the 49ers staff for standing by her.

“They really, really were supportive,” she said.

She added that the backlash has not shaken her confidence. “I am just excited to perform it more, to be honest, I am ready to keep going,” DiFruscio said.

The 32-year-old singer has plenty of experience singing national anthems. She started at just 14 years old, performing at her older brother’s junior hockey games. Over the years, she has sung for major Canadian teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays, Raptors, and Maple Leafs.

She has also performed at NBA playoff games. Her NFL appearance came during an important matchup, with Seattle fighting for playoff positioning.

Seattle went on to beat San Francisco 13-3. The win earned the Seahawks the No. 1 seed in the NFC, along with a first-round bye and home-field advantage.

For now, DiFruscio says she is staying focused on her music. She remains grateful for the opportunity and the support she felt on the field.