ESPN Not Showing National Anthem Before Sugar Bowl Sparks Anger
January 3, 2025
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ESPN has faced criticism online for failing to broadcast the national anthem and a moment of silence at the Allstate Sugar Bowl following the terror attack in New Orleans.
Newsweek has contacted ESPN for comment via email outside of regular office hours.
Why It Matters
The city of New Orleans, and the country as a whole, is dealing with the aftermath of the terror attack. The game took place on Thursday at New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome, which is located about a mile from Bourbon Street, where 15 people, including the attacker, were killed and at least 35 others injured after a man drove a truck into a crowd and opened fire before dying in a shootout with local police officers early on New Year’s Day.
A general view during the Allstate Sugar Bowl between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Caesars Superdome on January 02, 2025 in New Orleans. ESPN has been criticized for not broadcasting… A general view during the Allstate Sugar Bowl between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Caesars Superdome on January 02, 2025 in New Orleans. ESPN has been criticized for not broadcasting the national anthem and a moment of silence before the game.
Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
What to Know
The College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish was postponed from Wednesday evening to Thursday afternoon due to the attack in New Orleans.
Before the game, the national anthem was played, as is customary at U.S. sporting events, and a moment of silence was observed. Neither event was broadcast on ESPN, leading to criticism on social media, The New York Post reported.
ESPN shared a clip of the moment of silence before the game on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday.
The national anthem and the moment of silence were aired on the ESPN-owned SEC Network, which broadcast live from Caesars Superdome, according to The New York Post.
ESPN did air a message from President Joe Biden, who addressed the terrorist attack and the decision to proceed with the game in New Orleans.
According to The Post, citing an unnamed source, SportsCenter interviewed former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow before cutting to a commercial break as the moment of silence began. When the broadcast resumed, it was midway through the national anthem, and ESPN chose not to broadcast the anthem from that point onward.
Notre Dame defeated Georgia 23-10 in Thursday’s Sugar Bowl.
What People Are Saying
Bart Marcois, who was principal deputy assistant secretary of energy during the George W. Bush administration, posted on X: “ESPN made a deliberate choice to hide the national anthem and moment of silence at the Sugar Bowl. Why, ESPN?”
Trish Regan, a talk-show host, posted on X: “Really, ESPN? You won’t show the national anthem and moment of silence for the victims of the New Orleans jihadist terror attack? There’s no excuse for that. Disney’s CEO needs to step up to the plate and demand a complete reorg of the entire network—or just SELL it… NOW.”
Clay Travis, founder of sports and political commentary website OutKick, posted on X: “Wow. ESPN didn’t air the national anthem or the moment of silence for the New Orleans terror attack victims…and they continue to label the terror attack a ‘truck attack’ on screen.”
Author and journalist Raymond Arroyo posted on X: “This was a travesty that ESPN skipped one of the most moving and nationally significant moments of the Sugar Bowl. The anthem and moment of silence at the Dome was beautiful.”
Patrick Magee, sports editor at The Times-Picayune and The New Orleans Advocate, posted on X: “ESPN not showing the national anthem before the Sugar Bowl is a bit surprising.”
President Joe Biden, during the ESPN broadcast before the game, said: “Today, all of America stands with the people of New Orleans. We pray for those killed and injured in yesterday’s attack, and we’re grateful to the brave first responders who raced to save lives. I’m glad the game is back on for today, but I’m not surprised because the spirit of New Orleans can never be kept down. That’s also true for the spirit of America.”
What Happens Next
The FBI has said it is still in the early stages of its investigation into the New Orleans attack but encouraged anyone who thinks they may have relevant information to contact the New Orleans field office by calling (504) 816-3000, emailing tips@fbi.gov, or submitting photo and video footage online.
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