Chris Brown Shows Support For Colin Kaepernick On 9/11, Sits During National Anthem

After San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s protest of the National Anthem took over the NFL, its impact is now being felt outside of the sports world. During a charity basketball game on Sept. 11, singer Chris Brown chose to sit while the song was being performed.

Performing the song was R&B singer Tank, who urged everyone in attendance to rise for the song. “I understand everybody is exercising their right to stand or to sit and exercising their right to freedom and justice but in the wake of 9/11, please understand and respect the fact that real men and women and children lost their lives,” said Tank.

Brown and a few of the other players on the team stayed seated on the sideline as Tank sang, but when the song was over, Brown stood up and applauded with everyone else. TMZ was able to capture footage of Brown during the game and posted an article about the singer. Following the game, Brown posted a screenshot of the article on his Instagram page with a caption that read, “Stay classy!”

Brown didn’t give any further explanation about why he chose to sit but he has previously shown his support for Kaepernick and his protest. “Proud of my brother for actually trying to be the change by setting the example! Love bro,” he wrote in the caption of an Instagram picture featuring Kaepernick in August.

While Brown hasn’t made it clear why exactly he’s siding with Kaepernick, the quarterback has explained why he chose to protest the anthem. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” said Kaepernick. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”