Fergie Performs 'Worst-Ever' Rendition of National Anthem

Fergie's rendition of the national anthem at the NBA All-Star Game was so unpopular that some critics are calling it treasonous. Her breathy, sexed-up version of the anthem—which Variety compares to "Marilyn Monroe suddenly taking "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" in a screechier and scarier direction"—was widely condemned online and players including Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green could be spotted trying to hold back laughter, E! Online reports. Before the former Black Eyed Peas singer delivered her rendition, the Barenaked Ladies sang "O Canada" at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, reports Sports Illustrated.

Some critics said Fergie had taken the "worst rendition ever" title from Roseanne Barr, who was booed when she screamed an off-key version of the anthem at a baseball game in 1990. "Who saw Fergie's national anthem performance at the NBA All Star Game?" Barr tweeted Sunday night. "I think mine was better lowkey." Others brought up anthem protests: "NBA owners whining about kneelers desecrating the anthem and then they wheel Fergie out and let her do that," tweeted Kaveh Akbar, per the New York Daily News. In this year's All-Star Game, the league dropped the East-West format and let captains Lebron James and Stephen Curry pick teams. Team LeBron won 148-145. (More Fergie stories.)