America loses it over star’s national anthem trainwreck

An American star is keeping silent after causing a storm with a performance branded worse than Fergie’s iconically awful anthem blunder.

Pop artist Conan Gray has gone quiet on social media after a rendition of the American national anthem that has been branded worse than the iconically terrible performance by Fergie.

Gray was at the receiving end of a social media pile on after his performance fell flat with fans ahead of the MLB’s Home Run Derby in Los Angeles.

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Gray, a YouTube singer-songwriter turned pop star, left much to be desired with a performance that was out of pitch, rhythm and a heartbeat.

The 23-year-old was given the honour of performing the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ on home plate in front of thousands of fans inside Dodgers Stadium.

His selection was criticised by some commentators as a cheap way of Major League Baseball trying to reach out to a younger audience. It was not as successful as the league would have wanted.

Conan Gray had a shocker. Photo: ESPN.

The farcical scene has overshadowed the derby itself which was won by Juan Soto, who ended the winning streak of Mets slugger Pete Alonso.

It is also dominating headlines ahead of the All Star Game, scheduled for Wednesday morning (AEST).

Gray’s performance was so confronting, fans have been left scratching their heads trying to remember a worse performance of a national anthem at a sporting event.

You know it’s bad when it is getting compared to former Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie — and her national anthem rendition at the 2018 NBA All Star Game.

High profile American sport and betting commentator Darren Rovell was among those to criticise Gray and the MLB.

NBC sport commentator Zachary Krueger said Gray was “awful”.

A Congressional Committee that looks into who chose the singer for the National Anthem at the Home Run Derby.

— Zachary Krueger (@ZK_FFB) July 19, 2022

There are so many great singers in this country, it’s nearly impossible to have that bad of a national anthem.

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) July 19, 2022

1.) Who is Conan Gray?

2.) He may very well be the worst national anthem singer of all time.

Good lord. pic.twitter.com/S4hARoKSQq

— Matt Williams (@MattWi77iams) July 19, 2022

Me after listening to Conan Gray’s rendition of the national anthem #HRDerbypic.twitter.com/WrPCxSEXVt

— Teran Johnson (@TeranJSports) July 19, 2022

who the hell is conan gray and why did he agree to do this

— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) July 19, 2022

I don’t know who TF Conan Gray is but that was top 5 worst national anthem renditions I’ve ever heard.

— Patrick Sheldon (@P_Shels) July 19, 2022

The national anthem at this Home Run Derby was, ummm, yeah.

— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) July 19, 2022

Despite ‘Conan Gray’ becoming a trending topic in the United States on Twitter, Gray is yet to post anything on his social media channels — including for his 6.5 million followers on Instagram.

He will not want to look in the comments.