Some NFL fans in North America were left rubbing their eyes in disbelief when tuning in for the Sunday morning kickoff from Madrid, Spain.
While American pop star Karina Pasian may have rocked her performance of The Star-Spangled Banner, it was the dress that she was rocking that left online observers in shock.
Ahead of the game between the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium – the first-ever NFL game to take place in Spain — Pasian was tapped to perform the U.S. national anthem while the Madrid Marine Infantry Group Band followed with a rendition of the Spanish national anthem.
The New York City native wore a black mini dress with a deep cowl neckline, paired with thigh-high stockings, garters, and long gloves for her performance.
While the Grammy nominee delivered a stunning rendition of the anthem, it quickly was overshadowed on social media but those taking issue with her attire.
“Nice, but why did she have to dress like a hooker?” one user commented on X.
“The outfit was a bit inappropriate but her voice was beautiful,” another replied.
“Great to see the sharing of sport and competition with other countries!! Karina’s rendition of the US national anthem was lovely, but why is she dressed like a hooker?” another user questioned, also commenting that it was “very refreshing to see none of the players kneeling during the anthem (at least on camera).”
“Why is she dressed like a cabaret dancer? Takes away all solemnity from the anthem,” another added.
Other spectators, however, were able to look past Pasian’s outfit and praise the singer – who is based in Madrid – for her exceptional performance.
“Spain hosting its first NFL game already felt historic, but this performance makes it feel like the kind of scene people replay for years because of how quietly powerful it is,” one X user wrote.
“Not many people can sing that song well. She knocked it out of the park. Great job. Love it,” another commented.
Grammy-nominated singer
Pasian, 34, signed with Def Jam in 2006 at just 15 years old. She earned a Grammy nomination for her 2008 hit Can’t Find the Words in the Best Contemporary R&B and performed at the White House for President George W. Bush during Black Music Month in 2007.
As for the game, in a back-and-forth contest, the Dolphins eventually came out on top with a 16-13 overtime win to boost their record to 4-7, while Washington fell to 3-8.