Pat McAfee Apologizes After WWE Elimination Chamber Anthem Controversy
Pat McAfee addressed his comments at WWE Elimination Chamber after he said some harsh things about Canadian fans.
The WWE Elimination Chamber PLE at the Rogers Centre in Toronto is being praised as an incredible show with great matches and memorable moments like John Cena’s heel turn on Cody Rhodes to end the night.
There was also controversy at the end of the Elimination Chamber countdown show when Elizabeth Irving sang the United States national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner. The fans in Toronto booed loudly and it was hard to hear the singer because of it. When Irving sang the Canadian national anthem, the fans cheered and sang along with it.
Canadian fans booing the US national anthem has happened at NHL and NBA games in recent weeks due in part to US President Donald Trump threatening to put tariffs on Canada and trying to make Canada the 51st state in the US, which a lot of Canadians are against. It has made Trump, a WWE Hall of Famer, an enemy of sorts to Canadians.
While doing commentary at Elimination Chamber with Michael Cole and Wade Barrett, McAfee yelled into the camera about the fans booing the American anthem and how he didn’t like it.
Pat McAfee: “I’m Sorry…I Hope It Gets Settled”
On the March 3rd version of the Pat McAfee Show, Pat addressed his comments about Canada early in the show and made it clear that he understands why Canadians reacted to the US anthem the way they did.
“Now, Canada. Listen, there’s been some things said to me from Canadians that I guess I respect because of the passion that you have for your country, which 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 Center overwhelming boo. I mean, very loud boo. First reaction whenever the national anthem starts up there was for some of these Canadians just start booing, and I’m like, what? Okay, my entire life, my first reaction when somebody boos national anthem is fuck you. 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 United States of America, and 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 and that anything is possible on this land here in the United States. Now I know that we’re not the only country that has that happen, 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 that have been affected for fighting for our country, that really see the national anthem as like our, ‘Hey, this is our s**t.’
So anytime I’ve ever heard somebody boo our national anthem, my natural reaction is, ‘Let’s fight.’ That is literally my natural reaction. Now, a lot of Canadians have told me, ‘Why don’t you do a little investigating on why we’re booing? Okay, do you hear what your President said?’ Okay, listen, I understand there’s political differences at the current moment between US and Canada, but I feel like anytime I think of Canada, I don’t think of what Justin Trudeau does.
I don’t think immediately of Justin Trudeau decisions. I don’t think immediately of what Canada is doing in the political sphere. I think of the people of Canada. I think of Gumpy. I think of poutine. I think of the magical times that I had up in Niagara Falls as a teenager, the wild mushroom, the old casino, the new casino. So even talk about the adult ballets that maybe introduced me to a lot of things in life.
I think about loonies in Tony’s and good times in Mounties allowing teenagers puke in their streets because maybe we’re a little bit over served. That’s what I think of. When I think of Canada. I don’t think of Justin Trudeau.
As he continued, Pat McAfee went on to talk about the passion that Canadians have for their country.
Okay, so I understand now from the Canadians that they have a lot more passion for their country than I could have ever imagined. A lot of terrible things have been said about me, and I understand it. You boo my country. I called your country terrible. Let’s shake hands. Okay? You said you didn’t boo every member of the United States or every citizen United States of America.
Well, I didn’t say that Canadians are terrible. I said your country was so you booed us. I said you’re terrible. Let’s shake hands. Let’s move along. That’s what I would like to say. And I still love Canadians. Okay? We got one in the building, literally hired right off of a ship painting job in the Northwest Canada brought him in. His diction, his accent, the words he says, the way he says things, I think, exemplifies what Canadians are as a whole, his attitude, his peace, everything like that.
So I love Canadians, but my first reaction whenever you boo our country is okay, let’s fight. And I’m sorry, so let’s go shake their hands. I hope it gets settled.”
Pat McAfee remains a big part of WWE as a regular announcer on the Raw brand with Michael Cole and they also do the WWE PLE’s together.