London crowd turns NBA anthem moment into Greenland protest
Tensions in transatlantic relations surfaced in an unexpected setting on Sunday evening when a political message echoed through the O2 Arena during an NBA game in London. What is typically a ceremonial pregame ritual instead became a flashpoint for international frustration, voiced not by officials but by a fan in the stands.
A protest heard during the anthem
According to reporting by The Guardian, the incident occurred just before tipoff as singer and actor Vanessa Williams performed the Star Spangled Banner ahead of the matchup between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Orlando Magic.
Midway through the anthem, a spectator shouted “Leave Greenland alone,” cutting through the performance. The interruption was followed by cheers and applause from sections of the crowd, suggesting that the sentiment resonated with many in attendance.
The moment was brief, but it stood out in an arena filled with thousands of fans, underscoring how geopolitical disputes can intrude into spaces usually reserved for entertainment.
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Political backdrop to the outburst
The chant came amid a week of heightened rhetoric from US president Donald Trump directed at European governments. According to The Guardian, Trump threatened to impose steep tariffs on several European countries unless the United States is permitted to buy Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
On Saturday, Trump expanded on those remarks, saying a 10 percent tariff would be introduced from 1 February on imports from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland. He added that the rate would increase to 25 percent on 1 June if his demands were not met.
European leaders have rejected the proposal, describing it as unacceptable and harmful to long standing alliances.
European leaders push back
UK prime minister Keir Starmer responded publicly, emphasizing that Greenland’s status is not open to negotiation. “Our position on Greenland is very clear, it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes,” Starmer said, according to The Guardian.
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He also criticised the use of tariffs against allies, saying that applying trade penalties to Nato partners over collective security issues was wrong and that the matter would be taken up directly with the US administration.
Sports arenas as political stages
The London incident is part of a broader pattern in which sports crowds have expressed political opposition during national anthems. The Guardian has previously reported that Canadian fans booed the US anthem at basketball and ice hockey games after Trump suggested Canada could become a “51st state” and imposed new tariffs.
Trump himself has also encountered hostility at sporting events in the United States. He was jeered at a Washington Commanders game earlier this season and faced “lock him up” chants during the 2019 World Series.
Sunday’s interruption in London illustrated how disputes over diplomacy, trade, and sovereignty are increasingly finding their way into global sporting venues, far removed from official negotiating rooms.
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Sources: The Guardian
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