NFL Fans Outraged by Barenaked Ladies' Anthem Performance

WHO:

Daily Mail NFL - Barenaked Ladies performed the Canadian national anthem before the Buffalo Bills' game against the Detroit Lions on a Thursday night.

Sportskeeda - Barenaked Ladies, a Canadian rock band, performed the Canadian national anthem.

Democrat and Chronicle - Auli'i Cravalho, an actress and singer, performed "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Democrat and Chronicle - Pete Guelli, the Bills chief operating officer.

WHAT:

NBC Sports - The Bills will play the Canadian anthem before every home game.

NBC Sports - Approximately 12 percent of the Bills' personal seat license (PSL) holders are Canadian, and the waiting list is closer to 20 percent.

NBC Sports - Bills chief operating officer Pete Guelli stated, "We’ve built a multibillion-dollar stadium and firmed up this team in our market for the next 30-plus years; Canada was an important part of that and always will be."

NBC Sports - The Bills will play the Canadian anthem before every home game as part of a broader marketing effort into Southern Ontario and Toronto.

NBC Sports - Approximately 12 percent of the Bills' personal seat license (PSL) holders are Canadian, and the waiting list is closer to 20 percent.

NBC Sports - Bills chief operating officer Pete Guelli stated, "For us, it’s all about the business," regarding the decision to play the Canadian anthem.

Sportskeeda - NFL fans described the performance as "butchering" the Canadian national anthem.

Daily Mail NFL - Fans labeled the performance as "embarrassing."

Sportskeeda - NFL fans described the performance of the Canadian national anthem as "absolutely horrendous" and claimed it "ruined the entire night."

Sportskeeda - NFL fans criticized Barenaked Ladies for their performance of the Canadian national anthem, calling it "absolutely horrendous" and stating it "ruined the entire night."

Daily Mail NFL - The Buffalo Bills played the Canadian national anthem before their game against the Detroit Lions.

Democrat and Chronicle - The Bills' first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium featured both national anthems.

WHERE:

Democrat and Chronicle - The event took place at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.

Democrat and Chronicle - Southern Ontario is noted as an important part of the Bills' regional market.

WHEN:

Democrat and Chronicle - The performance took place before the Bills vs. Lions game on a Thursday night.

Democrat and Chronicle - The performance occurred before the Bills vs. Lions game on September 17, 2026.

Democrat and Chronicle - The Bills joined the NFL's Global Markets Program for Canada in 2025.

WHY:

NBC Sports - The decision to perform the Canadian national anthem is part of a broader marketing effort into Southern Ontario and Toronto, which is considered a top-five NFL market.

NBC Sports - The decision to perform the Canadian national anthem is part of a critical business model for the Bills, aimed at expanding their footprint in the Greater Toronto Area, which is considered a top-five NFL market.

Alternet - Some MAGA supporters expressed outrage, believing the performance was an intentional slight against Trump, with one stating, "There's ZERO reason to honor a foreign country when a Canadian team is not involved in this game whatsoever."

Democrat and Chronicle - The Bills performed the Canadian national anthem to acknowledge their Canadian fanbase, which has been a long-standing tradition.

Democrat and Chronicle - The Bills performed the Canadian national anthem to recognize their Canadian fanbase, as Canadian residents accounted for approximately 10% to 15% of the team's season-ticket members.

Democrat and Chronicle - The performance is part of Buffalo's renewed effort to grow its fanbase in Canada.

HOW:

Alternet - The Buffalo Bills have a history of playing the Canadian national anthem at special occasions, a practice supported by the late owner Ralph Wilson.

Democrat and Chronicle - The Bills' decision to perform the Canadian national anthem is part of a renewed effort to grow their fanbase in Canada.

Democrat and Chronicle - The Bills expanded their radio network into Canada, adding affiliates in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa prior to the season.

The Buffalo Bills will begin playing the Canadian national anthem before every home game as part of a new marketing initiative aimed at Southern Ontario and Toronto, which is recognized as a top-five NFL market. Approximately 12 percent of the Bills' personal seat license holders are Canadian, with the waiting list nearing 20 percent, highlighting the team's significant fan base across the border. Bills chief operating officer Pete Guelli emphasized the importance of Canada in their future plans, stating, "We’ve built a multibillion-dollar stadium and firmed up this team in our market for the next 30-plus years; Canada was an important part of that and always will be."