Democratic congressman slammed for criticizing Super Bowl crowd during 'Negro National Anthem'

Tennessee Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen is being slammed online after he criticized the Super Bowl crowd for not standing as the "Negro National Anthem" played. 

"Very very few stood at Super Bowl for 'Lift Every Voice and Sing,'" Cohen wrote Sunday on X, formerly Twitter. "The Negro National Anthem. Not a pretty picture of Super Bowl crowd."

Grammy-award-winning musician Andra Day sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing" during the Super Bowl pre-show while Post Malone sang "America the Beautiful," and Reba McEntire sang the national anthem. 

Conservative commentator Candace Owens, who is black, specifically criticized Cohen's use of the word "negro" in his post, as the song is commonly referred to as the "Black National Anthem" in the modern era.

"Lot to unpack here. Not only are we bringing back segregation, but we’re apparently referring to black people as 'negroes' again," she wrote on X. 

"Why should anyone stand for some random song that isn't the National Anthem?" Daily Wire commentator Matt Walsh said. 

"If anyone was wondering how Dems are handling the Super Bowl…" Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' press secretary Jeremy Redfern wrote in response to Cohen's post.

Follow Madeleine Hubbard on X or Instagram.