ESPN is facing intense backlash after deciding not to broadcast the national anthem or a moment of silence during the highly anticipated Sugar Bowl, which was postponed following a deadly terror attack in New Orleans
The Allstate Sugar Bowl, featuring the University of Georgia and Notre Dame, was rescheduled to January 2, 2025, a day after a horrifying attack rocked the French Quarter.
An Army veteran reportedly inspired by ISIS drove a pickup truck into a crowd, killing 14 and injuring 35 in the early hours of New Year’s Day. The tragedy cast a somber shadow over the event, making the anthem and moment of silence even more significant for many viewers.
However, ESPN chose not to air these pivotal moments live, instead relegating them to a brief clip posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account.
The move drew sharp criticism online.
A moment of silence was held prior to the Allstate Sugar Bowl to honor the victims and those impacted by Wednesday’s attack in New Orleans. pic.twitter.com/GOv5F6n2VG
— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2025
ESPN, once synonymous with sports highlights and game-day analysis, has been in the spotlight in recent years due to political bias in