The Buffalo Bills kicked off their home schedule on Thursday night with a bang, but it wasn't just the football that had fans buzzing. Before the game against the Detroit Lions, the team made history by playing both the Canadian and American national anthems at the new Highmark Stadium — and NFL fans were not having it.
The Canadian anthem, performed by the Barenaked Ladies, was a nod to the team's proximity to the border and the team's earlier announcement that they would honor both countries at every home game this season. But the decision immediately drew a chorus of boos from the stands — and on social media.
“That national anthem was simply awful,” one fan posted. “Please never do that again. Stick to the original format. That was embarrassing to listen to.”
Another asked, “Honest question, but why are we singing the Canadian National Anthem at a NFL game between 2 US teams being played in the US?”
A third fan echoed the sentiment: “I don’t wanna sound rude but if the game not in Canada and there isn’t a Canadian team playing then why are they singing Canadian anthem?? Is it location both teams are kinda close but it seems weird to me.”
Even those who appreciated the gesture were left scratching their heads. “Why did the NFL sing the Canadian National Anthem when they’re not in Canada but New York? Doesn’t make any sense to me,” one user added.
The backlash comes on the heels of another controversial decision by the Bills front office: keeping O.J. Simpson off the Wall of Fame at the new stadium. That move, revealed in August, has also sparked debate, with activist Betty Jean Grant saying, “O.J. is a big part of the Buffalo Bills’ history and will be forever. You can’t change that. His name was never taken off the wall during any of the three trials.”
The Bills have yet to respond to either controversy, but the team is likely more focused on the field. After all, they’re coming off a strong Week 1 performance and are already favorites in ESPN’s Week 2 model. Still, the anthem choice has added an unexpected layer of drama to what should have been a celebratory night.
This isn’t the first time the anthem has sparked outrage this season. Earlier, fans demanded an NFL anthem policy overhaul after a guitar rendition, and Pearl Jam’s guitarist faced similar criticism for his interpretation. The Bills’ decision to include “O Canada” is just the latest twist in the ongoing anthem debate.
Whether the team will reconsider its approach for future home games remains to be seen. But for now, the only thing louder than the crowd at Highmark Stadium might be the online outrage.
