'All Lives Matter' Message Slipped Into All-Star Game Anthem at Petco Park
The Tenors blame actions of lone-wolf member for change to "O Canada."
— -- A member of a Canadian singing group caused a stir at Petco Park when he changed a lyric in Canada's national anthem and held up a sign proclaiming "All lives matter" during a pregame performance at the 87th All-Star Game in San Diego on Tuesday.
Remigio Pereira, a member of the British Columbian group the Tenors, pulled out the sign while singing "O Canada" — to the confusion of the other members of the group.
Pereira unexpectedly sang, "We're all brothers and sisters. All lives matter to the great." The anthem's 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 stunt followed a week of Black Lives Matter protests in the United States. Proponents of the "all lives matter" response have received criticism for trivializing the problems specifically facing black people.
Some spectators were surprised and upset by what they witnessed:
Major League Baseball was also unaware of Pereira's plan to make a statement, according to a spokesman.
The group apologized on Twitter, saying that Pereira acted alone during the performance and that he wouldn't be performing with the group until further notice.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.