“The Statue Can Be Anywhere — As Long As Tom Is Standing There”: Gronkowski Humble, Brady Responds Touchingly, Causing Patriots Nation to Burst

Santa Clara, California – January 4, 2026.Just moments before the highly anticipated matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks kicked off at Levi’s Stadium, an unexpected wave of backlash erupted — not over strategy, not over players, but over who sang the national anthem. Ahead of kickoff, singer and songwriter Cassandra DiFruscio took the field to perform The Star-Spangled Banner. Her rendition was widely viewed as polished and respectful. There were no technical issues. No visible mistakes. But within minutes, the reaction online shifted dramatically. The controversy stemmed from fans learning that Cassandra DiFruscio is not American. Public information revealed that she was born in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, Canada, though she currently resides in Nashville. That detail quickly spread across social media and became the focal point of growing outrage. Online, numerous comments expressing frustration appeared almost immediately. Some fans questioned whether it was “strange” for an American national anthem to be performed by someone born in Canada at an NFL game. Others argued that the league’s decision was “inappropriate for the setting.” A handful of responses escalated further, accusing the NFL of drifting away from “traditional values,” despite there being no indication that DiFruscio showed any disrespect toward the anthem or the pregame ceremony. The backlash intensified as fans compared the situation to other games played the same day, where the anthem was performed by American singers with direct personal ties to the teams involved. Although the situations were unrelated, the contrast fueled additional criticism. However, according to DiFruscio’s professional background and official website, she is an experienced anthem vocalist who has performed The Star-Spangled Banner at more than 100 major sporting events across the United States. There is no NFL rule requiring the national anthem to be sung exclusively by U.S. citizens. Despite the negative reaction from a segment of fans, the facts indicate that Cassandra DiFruscio was simply doing the job she has performed for years — with preparation, professionalism, and respect for the anthem. Ultimately, the episode highlights how sensitive the national anthem remains within American sports culture, where even a small personal detail can turn a routine pregame tradition into a nationwide controversy — just hours before one of the most significant games of the season.