Featured Image Credit: Instagram/michaelstrahan/Fox News NFL
Topics: Social Media, Film and TV
Callum Jones
Topics: Social Media, Film and TV
Michael Strahan has broken his silence after he caused controversy for the way he stood during the national anthem.
The US national anthem is certainly a very patriotic thing, and if you don't listen/sing to it in a certain way you'll likely get abuse from folks on social media.
Strahan was criticised online for the way he stood during Fox's special football coverage from Naval Base San Diego on Sunday (10 November).
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The rest of his teammates were seen with their hands over their hearts during the national anthem, with Strahan instead filmed with his hands interlocked near his waist.
Some flocked to social media sites to slam Strahan for how he presented himself during the 'Star Spangled Banner', with the TV host and journalist stating the noise has 'spilled over' so much that he felt the need to address it on Instagram.
Strana said that by in no means was he protesting anything while the cameras were rolling, but instead that he was 'caught up in the moment' while the national anthem was heard.
“I have nothing to protest, I have no statement to be made,” he began on Instagram.
"The only statement that should be made that I want to make is I love the military, I’ve always loved the military and I will always love the military.
"I do so many programs to help veterans and soldiers. I grew up on a military base with a father who was a major in the army. My brother, my sister, my cousins, they all served in the military — I’m a military brat.
"And so the fact of somebody saying that, you know, I’m unpatriotic, couldn’t be any further from the truth."
Strahan went on to say it was the 'incredible scene' he witnessed that got him a bit distracted.
"I somewhat panic and I’m like, ‘Do I be the fool that puts his hand over his heart after or do I just stand here with my hand in front of me respectfully?’ Which, that’s what I did, that’s what happened," he explained.
There was one incident where Strahan was asked for comment by a journalist from the Daily Mail outside of his home.
The TV presenter grabbed and threw the reporter's phone away.
Strahan was 'not proud' of the way he conducted himself during the incident, though said he felt the need to 'protect' his family as well as his home in that situation.
"I felt like I had to do that in that moment," Strahan said.
A Fox insider told the Daily Mail Strahan will not be punished for the incident.