Charles Barkley was among the masses who found Fergie’s performance of the national anthem at Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game … interesting.
Fergie’s performance was widely mocked and ridiculed on social media, and it was very entertaining seeing how those present at Staples Center, including players, reacted to the rendition.
Literally dying at these reactions. Fergie with the worst rendition ever. Embiid pic.twitter.com/ociAsWf0LC
— Isaac Harris (@IsaacLHarris) February 19, 2018
Barkley, who never hesitates to express his opinion, not surprisingly had thoughts on the performance, even though Shaquille O’Neal went to bat for the singer as the TNT crew reacted to the odd situation at halftime.
Barkley: Can we talk about Fergie’s National Anthem… pic.twitter.com/RwZMYpLzsr
— Dime on UPROXX (@DimeUPROXX) February 19, 2018
The interplay between Shaq and Sir Charles — with a brief interjection from Ernie Johnson — as transcribed by Dime Mag.
CHARLES: “Can we talk about Fergie’s National Anthem?”
SHAQ: “Oh, stop. Don’t do that. Don’t do that to my Fergie. Fergie, I love you. It was different, it was sexy, leave her alone.”
CHARLES: “Damn right it was sexy, I need a cigarette after that one.”
SHAQ: “It was different. Give it to me different in 2018. Whitney Houston did it different, too.”
ERNIE: “Marvin Gaye did it different, here in L.A..”
CHARLES: “No, he did it right.”
Shaq was not done sticking up for Fergie, however.
Shaq is begging Chuck to leave Fergie alone pic.twitter.com/uOfm4ulXak
— Dime on UPROXX (@DimeUPROXX) February 19, 2018
Oof. Suffice to say, the implication is that Barkley found Fergie’s rendition of the anthem “turrible.”
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