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Pat McAfee Reacts To Getting Heat For His Comments At Elimination Chamber

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WWE Elimination Chamber opened with Canadian singer-songwriter Elizabeth performing the U.S. National Anthem, but the crowd responded with loud boos. Pat McAfee reacted on commentary by calling Canada “terrible,” which sparked backlash.

Addressing the controversy on The Pat McAfee Show, McAfee defended his remark, explaining that he was simply showing pride in his country. He admitted he was shocked by the boos and reacted instinctively, as he deeply respects the anthem.

Here’s what McAfee said:

“Listen, there have been some things said to me from Canadians that I guess I respect because of the passion you have for your country. I hope you understand that I was showing the same for mine. You booed my country.

Now, I heard from a lot of Canadians during the national anthem. Obviously, the Rogers Centre was overwhelmingly loud with boos. My first reaction when our national anthem started up there was hearing some Canadians just start booing, and I was like, ‘What?’ My entire life, my first reaction when someone boos the national anthem is, ‘F*** you, get out of here.’

I’m very thankful that I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States of America. I’m very proud that I am from the USA. Is everything perfect? Absolutely not. But my dad went from being a truck driver to a millionaire because he taught his son a work ethic that anything is possible in this land.

I know we’re not the only country where that happens, but in my life, that is the case. I’ve also moved out here to Indiana and got a chance to meet a lot of military members. I’ve been to a lot of bases. I know Gold Star families. I know people who have been affected fighting for our country, people who really see the national anthem as our, ‘Hey, this is our thing.’ So anytime I’ve ever heard somebody boo our national anthem, my natural reaction is, ‘Let’s fight.’

After hearing from Canadians about why they booed, McAfee said he now understands their strong feelings about their country. He knows there are political issues between the U.S. and Canada, but he doesn’t think about politics when he thinks of Canada. Instead, he remembers the people and good memories, like visiting Niagara Falls as a teenager.

Now, a lot of Canadians have told me, ‘Why don’t you do a little investigating into why we’re booing? Do you hear what your President said?’ I understand there are political differences at the moment between the U.S. and Canada. But when I think of Canada, I don’t think of what Justin Trudeau does or his decisions. I don’t think about Canadian politics. I think about the people in Canada and the magical times I had as a teenager at Niagara Falls.

So I understand now that Canadians have a lot more passion for their country than I could have imagined. A lot of terrible things have been said about me—I understand it. You booed our country, and I said you’re terrible.

Let’s shake hands. You said you didn’t boo every member of the USA—well, I didn’t say that Canadians are terrible. I said your country is. So you booed us, and I said you’re terrible. Let’s shake hands and move along. That’s all I’d like to say, and I still love Canadians.”


        
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