All-Star Game Singer Alters Anthem Lyrics, Causes Stir

A member of a Canadian singing quartet changed a lyric in his country's national anthem and held up a sign proclaiming "All Lives Matter" during a pregame performance at the 87th All-Star Game on Tuesday. In a statement issued during the game, the Tenors blamed the changes that caused a stir at San Diego's Petco Park solely on Remigio Pereira, who sang the altered "O Canada" lyrics while the other three singers wordlessly harmonized. The band said Pereira won't perform with the Tenors "until further notice," calling his actions "disrespectful" and "shameful," the AP reports. "All Lives Matter" has become a common online response in recent months to the "Black Lives Matter" movement, particularly after the police shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.

The change happened during the middle portion of the anthem, which is often sung in French at sporting events. Pereira unexpectedly sang: "We're all brothers and sisters. All lives matter to the great." The normal lyric is: "With glowing hearts we see thee rise. The True North strong and free." "United We Stand" was written on the back of his sign. "The Tenors are deeply sorry for the disrespectful and misguided lack of judgment by one member of the group acting as a 'lone wolf' today," the Tenors tweeted. Pereira, whose anthem change was slammed as "pathetic" and "embarrassing" by social media users, per the CBC, tweeted: "I've been so moved lately by the tragic loss of life and I hoped for a positive statement that would bring us ALL together." (More MLB All-Star Game stories.)