Colin Kaepernick Calls U.S. National Anthem 'A Bad Song'

Colin Kaepernick, the activist and former NFL player, recently described "The Star-Spangled Banner" as "a bad song" during an appearance on the Adam Friedland podcast. The remarks come roughly a decade after Kaepernick began his protest during the national anthem to raise awareness about police brutality and racial injustice.

During the podcast, comedian Adam Friedland asked Kaepernick, "is the poem written by Francis Scott Key... a good song?" Kaepernick responded with a swift "No," before clarifying his stance when Friedland pressed him to consider the song purely from a musical perspective. "Yeah, it's a bad song," Kaepernick maintained.

When asked by Friedland what might be a better alternative for an American theme song, Kaepernick paused. Friedland then playfully suggested the song "March Madness" by rapper Future. Kaepernick responded, "Great choice," and shared a gesture of agreement with the host.

The interview aired days after the United States marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. Kaepernick was promoting his memoir, "Perilous Fight," which details his life, career, and the origins of his anthem protests.

Kaepernick's protest began in 2016 when he took a knee during the national anthem before a San Francisco 49ers game. He continued this form of protest throughout that season, after which he did not play in the NFL again. The movement sparked widespread debate about patriotism, protest, and racial inequality in the United States.