Rachel Platten breaks silence after controversial national anthem ahead of Vikings-Rams game left NFL fans split

Singer Rachel Platten has broken her silence after her performances ahead of Los Angeles’ playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings were met with widespread criticism.

The Rams earned an emotional Wild Card victory after a devastating week in Los Angeles, where thousands of homes were destroyed and 24 lives were lost due to the ongoing wildfires.

And the franchise paid tribute to the victims of the bushfires and the firefighters who continue to battle the treacherous conditions, including appearances from Platten.

After seven days of turmoil and tragedy, Platten sang her 2015 hit, “Fight Song,” as a form of rallying cry to Los Angelenos before the playoff game.

Platten later struggled to keep her tears at bay at the end of her emotionally charged rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. Still, a large number of football fans didn’t believe it, with many accusing the singer of faking her tears.

However, the singer spoke out about her performances at State Farm Stadium on Tuesday, insisting the entire night had been emotional.

The singer has spoken out about her rendition of her hit ‘Fight Song’ and the national anthem

‘It was such an emotional evening. It was so much bigger than me and the song,” she said Billboardtalking about ‘Fight Song’.

The choice of song had raised eyebrows as the song was originally featured on her second studio album, titled ‘Wildfire’.

Platten, however, had a lyric in the first verse – “I may only have one match / But I can make an explosion” – changed to a more appropriate choice given the circumstances: “We may have been knocked down / But I know we’ll continue.’

“I’m honestly incredibly grateful for the whole night,” she added. “We can do so many things with tragedy. We can grieve together and we can cry together – but there are also times to be strong together.

“What I felt on stage was, ‘May this song hit people like a medicine, may this song be healing.’ I felt a reverberation and an echo in the stadium of that hunger for hope in the middle of the darkness. Sometimes music can do what words cannot.”

Platten also spoke about the performance on her Instagram stories on Tuesday, but did not acknowledge the backlash.

The singer-songwriter chose to focus solely on the praise heaped upon others as she reshared their positive reviews on her platform.

Several users had taken to social media to accuse the singer and songwriter of “fake crying” at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona – where Monday’s game was moved due to the LA wildfires.

After seven days of unrest and tragedy, Platten sang ‘Fight Song’ as a tribute to LA

“Rachel Platten fake cried after the national anthem was a comedy,” someone said on X.

Another asked: “Did that lady just start fake crying after singing the national anthem?”

“Rachel Platten shouldn’t be doing the national anthem again and that dramatic shout into the camera…give me a break,” a third wrote.

One user replied to that comment: “Glad someone else noticed that ‘I need all the attention’ moment.”

While another claimed: ‘FALSE TEARS FROM RACHEL PLATTEN, SHE’S NOT EVEN FROM LA, SHE GREW UP IN THE NEWTON MASS’.

Despite the false accusations, the Los Angeles players were also moved by the moment Platten sang the national anthem.

ESPN’s broadcast featured Rams stars Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford appearing suffocated on the sidelines, while head coach Sean McVay was caught with glassy eyes.

As a growing group of firefighters continue to battle brutal conditions on the front lines in Los Angeles, the Rams honored their hometown heroes earlier in the evening.

Firefighters continue to battle brutal conditions on the front lines in Los Angeles

Rams stars (photo by Cooper Kupp) wore t-shirts honoring the LA Fire Department

Stafford, McVay and co. also wore special t-shirts reading ‘LAFD’ in the team’s colors as the players took to the pitch to warm up, while a moment of silence was held before the match to pay respects to the victims of the tragedy .

Before the teams took the field to sing the national anthem together, Platten had performed a rendition of her 2015 hit “Fight Song” over a montage of first responders heroically battling the infernos.

When he arrived at State Farm Stadium on Monday night, quarterback Stafford opted to make his own gesture as he donned a navy blue LAFD hoodie for his entrance.

He then inspired his team to a shocking 27-9 victory over the Vikings after completing 19 of his 27 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns.