NFL analyst and “Good Morning America” host Michael Strahan apologized and talked about how much he loves the military after he was accused of being “disrespectful” during the playing of the national anthem at a pre-Veteran’s Day broadcast celebration.
In a video he posted on his Instagram, Strahan said he wanted to address the backlash, saying that not placing his hand over his chest while the anthem played was in no way “protesting” or making some kind of statement.
“The only statement that should be made and that I wanna make is that I love the military,” Strahan said. “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,” he added. “And so the fact of somebody saying that, you know, I’m unpatriotic, couldn’t be any further from the truth. And if you want the truth, I’ll tell you: The truth is that I was caught up in the moment.”
“I’m looking at all these young sailors standing there at attention before the national anthem played, and I’m thinking to myself, ‘How incredible. How incredible to be that young and to know that you wanna do this.’ Strahan continued. “Like, it’s such a commitment, but you’re willing to commit to something that you know gives us our freedoms, plain and simple. I’m just sitting there in amazement.”
Strahan said by the time he looked back at his cohosts and saw them with their hand over their heart, he had a moment of “somewhat panic.”
“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 added.
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“If that offended any of our military and veterans, I apologize to you because that was never my intent,” Strahan said, as he closed out his video noting again how much love he has for those who serve.
On Sunday, the “Fox NFL Sunday” show was broadcast from the Naval Base in San Diego, and Strahan’s cohosts stood and put their right hands over their hearts while the anthem played. However, viewers noticed that Strahan instead folded his hands in front of him, and that upset many watching, who accused him of being “disrespectful,” the New York Post noted.
On Monday, the former NFL player did not exactly address the backlash and instead posted a message and pictures on his Instagram honoring his father Maj. Gene W. Strahan, Sr. — and all those who serve — on Veteran’s Day amid the criticism.
Related: Michael Strahan Breaks Silence After He’s Accused of Being ‘Disrespectful’ During National Anthem
