Cynthia Erivo forgets national anthem lyrics at basketball game
- Cynthia Erivo forgot the words to the US national anthem at a basketball game in New York in 2018.
- During her performance, she stood in silence for 24 seconds while a staff member helped her recall the lyrics.
- Fans and social media offered sympathy, recognizing that mistakes can happen to anyone, even to successful performers.
In a notable incident that took place at the 2018 Nets versus Lakers basketball game in New York, actress Cynthia Erivo experienced a moment of stage fright while singing the national anthem. The 37-year-old performer, known for her role in the Broadway revival of The Colour Purple and her appearance in Steve McQueen's film Widows, found herself in front of a large crowd when she forgot the lyrics to the anthem, turning a brief second into an agonizing 24 seconds of silence. Despite her initial panic, Erivo eventually regained her composure, with the sympathetic crowd cheering her on as she started the anthem from the beginning. During a promotional event for the musical Wicked, Erivo reflected on the experience while playing a game called Never Have I Ever with her co-stars Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey. Grande humorously commented that she also faced challenges with the national anthem's tricky lyrics, shedding light on the common difficulties performers encounter when under pressure. The incident garnered a wave of support from fans on social media, who expressed sympathy and shared that mistakes during live performances are not uncommon in the entertainment industry. Erivo later acknowledged her nerves and fatigue during the performance, stating, 'I'm human and I mess up in the same way as everyone else.' Mistakes while performing the national anthem are not isolated events; many videos exist showing similar occurrences with other artists. This highlights the pressures faced by performers in high-stakes environments. The supportive reaction from the audience and social media demonstrates how fans can empathize with artists when they falter, reinforcing a sense of community and understanding within the sphere of public performance. Erivo's experience remains a reminder of the vulnerability performers may face and the resilience they display in overcoming such challenges. Conclusively, while the moment was challenging for Erivo, it also illustrates a broader truth about live performances—that mistakes are part of the artistic journey and can garner more support than backlash, reinforcing the idea that these artists share human experiences with their audiences.