‘I did my best’: Fergie breaks silence after bizarre anthem performance

FORMER Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie has broken her silence after copping widespread backlash for her bizarre performance of the US national anthem.

Fergie performs the national anthem before the start of the NBA All-Star basketball game in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

FERGIE says she is “proud” of her US national anthem performance at the NBA All-Star game, despite the overwhelming backlash she’s received on social media.

The former Black Eyed peas singer’s woozy, off-kilter rendition of The Star Spangled Banner was so bizarre, it had some even questioning whether it was performance art — the ‘national anthem America deserves’ in the Trump era.

This is protest performance art. pic.twitter.com/36SvCdiXai

— love. (@chrstvphr) February 19, 2018

Fergie has finally faced the music and released a statement — defending her bizarre rendition — after it was mocked by both fans and players on Monday.

The performance was widely panned. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images/AFP)

“I’ve always been honoured and proud to perform the national anthem and ... I wanted to try something special for the NBA,” Fergie told the Hollywood Reporter.

“I’m a risk taker artistically, but clearly this rendition didn’t strike the intended tone,” she said. “I love this country and honestly tried my best.”

Countless people have called out Fergie for the “slow” and “strange” performance, with some calling it the “worst ever.”

Roseanne Barr — who made headlines in 1990 for her dreadful rendition — even took a shot at the singer on Sunday night, tweeting: “Who saw Fergie’s national anthem performance at the NBA All Star Game? I think mine was better low-key.”

This story originally appeared in the NY Post and is republished here with permission.