NBC Sports boldly opted not to air the national anthem before Sunday's NFL playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the visiting Los Angeles Rams.
The latest controversy comes just one day before Donald Trump's inauguration and marks another surprise decision to show The Star-Spangled Banner this month.
In early January, ESPN came under fire for not showing the anthem before the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, which had been postponed a day after the New Year's Day terrorist attacks in the city killed 14 people.
Various networks have taken different approaches to showing The Star-Spangled Banner before kickoff, but NBC appeared to have angered many fans by refusing to do so on Sunday.
“All of you and the @NFL are a disgrace and total losers for not showing the national anthem at the Rams v Eagles game,” one reviewer wrote on X. “Wow.”
Another fan wrongly directed their displeasure at NBC, saying: 'F^%# You for not showing the National Anthem!!! What a shame!!!'
A Philadelphia Eagles fan holds up an eagle head before Sunday's game against the LA Rams.
Several fans were furious that NBC chose not to show Sunday's national anthem in Philadelphia.
“Once again, NBC is not playing the national anthem,” one commenter added. 'Thank God our country is moving away from woke and woke networks!!!'
One fan thought NBC's decision was particularly egregious considering the outpouring of national sympathy for those affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles.
“I'm extremely disappointed that @NBCSports didn't air the national anthem, especially in light of what's happened the last two weeks with the wildfires in Los Angeles,” one person wrote.
“Obviously, NBC doesn't know how to keep it classy.”
One fan blamed play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico for some reason: “A big 'F' to NBC and Tirico for not playing the national anthem before the Rams-Eagles NFL game.”
Another blamed Commissioner Roger Goodell.
“Fuck NBC, the NFL and Roger Goodell,” they wrote on X. “NBC Sports opted not to broadcast the National Anthem before Sunday's Divisional Round game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the visiting Los Angeles Rams.”
Years ago, networks rarely aired the national anthem outside of the Super Bowl or other major championships.
In fact, before 2009, NFL players were not even required to be on the field for the anthem, with the exception of a brief period after the 9/11 attacks.
However, the league and networks' handling of the anthem has come under scrutiny since prominent players began protesting racist police brutality by kneeling during the song during the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
Players must now “stand and show respect for the flag” if they are present on the field during the anthem. However, players have the right to remain in the locker room if they wish.
Jalen Carter #98 of the Philadelphia Eagles watches before Sunday's game
The issue has also arisen at the university level.
Recently, ESPN chief Burke Magnus admitted that the network made “a huge mistake” by not showing the national anthem before the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
But Magnus blamed “human error” after neither “The Star-Spangled Banner” nor the moment of silence were aired on the main broadcast following the deadly terrorist attack, which killed 14 people and injured 35 others.
College football fans were furious, with one calling ESPN “disgusting” and former host Sage Steele accusing the network of deliberately skipping the anthem before Notre Dame faced Georgia at the Caesars Superdome.
But Magnus, ESPN's president of content, insists the network feels “terrible” about the incident and “should be held accountable” for it.
“There are a group of people in Bristol who have just made a huge mistake,” he said. The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show.
It turns out that it was a human error. I don't want to downplay it at all, but nothing was normal the next day, including our schedule.