Avery Wilson addressed public reaction following his national anthem performance at Game 3 of the NBA Finals held at Madison Square Garden, where President Donald Trump appeared in the crowd and drew a strong mixed response.
The moment unfolded on Monday, June 8, as Wilson performed the anthem before tipoff, with sections of the audience reacting loudly when the POTUS was shown on arena screens.
Video from the event circulated widely on social platforms, showing a wave of boos alongside scattered cheers during the broadcast segment.
Speaking to TMZ, Avery Wilson admitted that he was aware of the noise, but clarified that his focus remained on his performance.
For the R&B singer—known for his songs Kiss the Sky, Ease On Down The Road, and You Can’t Win—the experience was a notable cultural moment because of the scale of online discussion that followed.
“I always go in with just trying to do my job, which is to raise the levels of energy in the building that’s already there. Make sure that the team that’s playing, they feel, you know, supported. And make sure that the audience is really on one accord.”
The Voice Season 3 alum went on:
“The whole purpose is to be united and be together and to have that energy and synergy in the building. So that’s my real job, and that’s what I felt.”
Avery Wilson on Trump being booed: “It’s energy that you cannot contain”
Avery Wilson added that he knew Trump and other public figures in attendance drew strong reactions, especially since it was a large sporting environment housing a massive crowd.
However, he did not have a clear sense of the noise in real time while performing because he was using in-ear monitoring equipment, which limited what he could hear from the arena during the anthem.
“I knew there was a lot going on, and a lot riding on this specific game and specifics. But it wasn’t a focus for me. I just wanted to show up and do my job as best as I possibly could, and hopefully, people feel as best as they possibly can so we can get this win.”
Avery Wilson continued:
“It’s not foreign that I would hear some type of heckling or some type of boo or just some type of noisemaker because we’re at a game. Everyone’s free, having a good time, drinks are flowing. It’s energy that you cannot contain.”
Meanwhile, Trump, who spoke after the game, suggested he heard both positive and negative reactions from the crowd, but stated that it was “mostly cheers,” offering a different account of the arena’s response to his appearance.
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Edited by Gladys Altamarino