Well-known R&B singer and poet Jill Scott has become the center of attention on Twitter and other social media platforms after she changed the lyrics of the National Anthem at a festival held in New Orleans. Jill Scott’s controversial performance has sparked mixed reactions from people.
Using a platform to express views against racial discrimination is nothing new, as Colin Kaepernick did something similar by not standing up for the National Anthem.
Jill Scott has chosen to do the same thing but in her own way. The Philadelphia-born singer, songwriter, and poet was recently shifting towards a career in the television industry.
She has been a part of TV series and movies like Black Lightning, Hounddog, and Black-ish. In the Essence Festival that was held from June 29th to July 3rd, Jill Scott was scheduled to perform the National Anthem as a part of her tour. The regular Festival took place in New Orleans, Louisiana. As controversial as it may seem, this was not the first time Jill has voiced her opinions at one of her shows.
Jill Scott Controversy: What Went Down At The Essence Fest 2023?
Jill has been attending Essence Festivals for a long time and has been vocal about what she felt back in 2006 as well. Back then, she talked about the portrayal of African-American women in music videos and how it was always inappropriate or dirty. Scott claimed such frequent representation of the community was unhealthy and had to be paid attention to.
Everyone please rise for the only National Anthem we will be recognizing from this day forward.
Jill Scott, we thank you! #ESSENCEFest pic.twitter.com/WrYrP1nhTc
— ESSENCE (@Essence) July 5, 2023
This time, she chose to express her views by altering the lyrics of Star-Spangled Banner, the USA’s National Anthem. Instead, she replaced the lines with lyrics talking about systemic racism and the spilling of innocent blood.
She has been performing this same altered version of the Anthem at many performances, but since Essence Festival was a much larger gathering, the controversy was brought to light much faster.
Lines such as “Blood in the streets” and “This place doesn’t smile on you, colored child” replaced the original lyrics of The Star Spangled Banner. Jill Scott’s version of the Anthem ends with lyrics claiming America wasn’t the land of the free but, instead, the home of the slaves. This Essence performance celebrated Who Is Jill Scott‘s 23rd Anniversary.
This alteration of the Anthem has garnered both positive and negative reactions. Essence, the main host of the event, claimed that they supported Jill and recognized this new version as the real one.
Back in March, when Jill Scott presented a similar performance, she had hoped that her way of protesting against racial discrimination wouldn’t divide people. Jill’s yet to come out with a statement on the current situation.
Jill Scott sang, “This is not the land of the free”. Her net worth is 12M, so who is she suppressing ? pic.twitter.com/eQ2uL8JWOS
— DavidCD ⭐️🇺🇸⭐️ (@davidcd0418) July 7, 2023
Scott’s rendition of Star Spangled Banner was originally written by her when she was just a teenager. Those that oppose her feel that she’s too privileged to be talking about America this way, as she has managed to build a net worth of millions in the country. Supporters of the new anthem feel that what Jill did brought to light the hidden racism that still seems to exist behind shadows.
Jill Scott: About The Singer’s Rise To Fame
Jill first began her years-long career as a spoken word artist, where she traveled all over the country for her impactful poetry readings. However, She was soon discovered by artists who wanted her to pursue a career as a music artist. Scott has earned quite a handful of Grammys over the years for her performances in the R&B genre.
Her original record label, Hidden Beach Recordings, sued her in 2010 after she tried to drop the label even though it played an important role in giving her the Grammys. Soon after, Scott came out with multiple songs, which landed her in the top spots on contemporary music charts.
Throughout the years, Jill has been recognized for her unique style as a soprano that combines various forms of music to create a masterpiece. Her elegant vocals have been praised by reviewers, and she is known for drawing attention to minorities and African-American mistreatment in the US through her music.
Also Read: Better Than Revenge Lyrics Controversy
