Baseball fans didn’t hold back when they criticized Betsy Wolfe’s rendition of the national anthem at the New York Yankees’ Opening Day game.
The Tony-nominated Broadway star found herself at the center of controversy after her performance went viral for all the wrong reasons.
The Controversial Performance
Wolfe, who has earned acclaim for her roles in Broadway productions like Waitress and The Last Five Years, was chosen to perform The Star-Spangled Banner before the Yankees’ game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
However, her performance raised eyebrows when fans noticed she seemed to be looking at her phone mid-song.
Many accused her of needing to read the lyrics to the national anthem, a moment that didn’t go unnoticed on social media.
Fans Speak Out
The reaction from fans was swift and harsh.
“Whoever is singing the anthem for the Yankees game gotta be embarrassed,” one fan tweeted.
Another added, “The young lady singing the national anthem at the #Yankees game is reading the lyrics off of her phone….YIKES #OpeningDay.”
A third fan went as far as calling it “the worst sober national anthem maybe,” referencing Ingrid Andress’ infamous performance at last year’s Home Run Derby.
The criticism didn’t stop there.
“Wow! How embarrassing. Singing the National Anthem for Opening Day at Yankee Stadium and needing her cell phone to remember the words.
Really? Is this the best you could get/afford for Opening Day?” another fan remarked.
Ingrid Andress’ Viral Performance
The comparison to Ingrid Andress’ disastrous performance at the Home Run Derby was inevitable.
Earlier this month, Andress opened up about her performance, admitting she was drunk on the field and checked into rehab the following day.
“It only took, you know, global humiliation for me to be like ‘this is a problem,'” Andress shared on The Viall Files.
She later recalled feeling confident about her performance while intoxicated, only to realize the next morning how bad it had been.
The Yankees’ Victory
Despite the backlash surrounding Wolfe’s performance, the Yankees managed to hold onto a lead over the Brewers through the seventh inning of the game.
The team’s performance was notably more successful than Wolfe’s singing.
A Broadway Star’s Career
Wolfe, whose Broadway career includes notable roles in Falsettos and Merrily We Roll Along, is no stranger to the spotlight.
Her most recent role in & Juliet, where she played Anne Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare, earned her a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical in 2023.
Although she lost to Bonnie Milligan of Kimberly Akimbo, Wolfe’s reputation as a talented performer remains intact.
Wrapping Up
Wolfe took to social media to share her experience, posting pictures of herself and her daughter preparing for her moment in the spotlight.
While her national anthem performance may have missed the mark, her career on Broadway continues to shine.
Fans are left wondering what’s next for the talented actress and singer.