Singer Laurin Talese’s performance of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ stirred mixed reactions among NFL enthusiasts before the Philadelphia Eagles’ first game of the season, with many criticizing the league’s ‘DEI’ anthem choice.

The jazz artist was in the spotlight as the Eagles began their quest to defend their Super Bowl title, facing off against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night.

Although the song, often referred to as the Black National Anthem, has become a staple in NFL events, including the Super Bowl and the Draft, the rendition in Philadelphia led to some controversy.

Many at-home viewers seemed to agree, taking to social media to criticize the league for featuring the anthem at the season’s start.

‘Here we go with the DEI ‘lift every voice and sing’ anthem,’ one furious football fan wrote on X. ‘Ridiculous. Sing the national anthem!’ 

‘This ‘lift every voice and sing’ black national anthem is a disgrace to the NFL and USA!!,’ another claimed. 

One person commented, ‘NFL still sticking with this lift every voice and sing thing, huh… shaking my head, just look at the crowd, they could care less,’ as the cameras showed the mostly Kelly Green audience at the stadium.

Another viewer remarked, “‘Lift Every Voice And Sing’ is playing before the Cowboys and Eagles game. As the cameras scan the crowd, you can tell that no one cares.”

‘Very disappointing to see @NFL is still sponsoring this divisive ‘Black National Anthem’ bulls***,’ fumed another.  

However, other fans’ issue didn’t lie with the performance of the anthem but rather the quality of the sound. 

‘The person responsible for the sound mix on this ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ should be fired,’ one user posted as Talese struggled to be heard despite the aid of a microphone. 

‘NFL & Goodell are cowards scared of Trump so they f***ed up the audio for #NFLKickoff for the Black National Anthem Lift Every Voice Sing,’ said another, referring to commissioner Roger Goodell. 

‘They disrespected the hell out the woman singing lift every voice and sing,’ one angry user posted. 

‘Not all this chatter during lift every voice and sing,’ echoed another, adding a crying emoji. 

Talese is a massive Eagles fan, attending both Super Bowl parades in recent years and frequently tailgating at games. 

The musician got her start in the City of Brotherly Love and has spent two and a half decades in Philly. 

‘I’m feeling so excited and honored,’ Talese told the Eagles earlier in the week. ‘I’m really excited to see what it’s going to feel like. … I love feeling the pulse of the city, but I’ve never been to a game. 

‘So, this is my entrance. This is my foray into real-life Eagles fandom, and being able to really be a part of it, like, what better way? It’s kind of crazy, actually.’ 

‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ triggered outrage earlier this year when a choral rendition was performed before the NFL Draft in Green Bay.

A Milwaukee-based choir, the James Weldon Johnson Foundation’s ‘National Hymn Choir’, performed the song in April.

The choral arrangement was accompanied by a simple pianist in front of the throngs of fans gathered at Lambeau Stadium.

But fans back home were left seething over the ‘gentrified’ rendition of the song.

‘They got whites singing Lift Every Voice and Sing? They done gentrified the Black national anthem,’ one furious social media user posted.

The performance of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ ahead of the Super Bowl in February had also sparked headlines.

Ledisi’s performance had been a source of scrutiny earlier in the week, especially after it emerged the NFL was removing its ‘End Racism’ signs from the end zone for the Super Bowl.

But Ledisi’s powerful performance in New Orleans sparked widespread praise on social media.

She took to the field moments after President Trump had arrived at the stadium for the biggest night in the sporting calendar in the United States.

More to follow.