A heckler yells “Leave Greenland alone!” at an NBA game, followed by applause. Singing the national anthem.
The interruption occurred as Vanessa Williams performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies vs. Orlando Magic game at the O2 Arena in London.
In the middle of the song, a heckler yelled, “Leave Greenland alone!” This explosion elicited laughter and cheers from the audience. The crowd included many soccer stars and celebrities. Williams didn’t react and finished singing the national anthem without missing a beat.
Williams sang the national anthem before the match at the O2 Arena. /Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images
The protests began against the backdrop of President Donald Trump’s escalating comments about Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally. President Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States should take control of the Arctic islands.
After being removed from the Nobel Peace Prize nominations, President Trump even declared that he “feels nothing anymore.”[s] We have a duty to think purely about peace. He said this in a letter he sent to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gaar Stor, according to . bloomberg.
In an angry letter, he reiterated his claim that “Denmark cannot protect its land from Russia and China” and questioned why a European state had “ownership rights”.
“The world will not be safe unless we have full and complete control over Greenland,” he added.
His past comments on the issue have sparked outrage across Europe, with leaders warning that the president’s demands risk splitting the military alliance.
The Grizzlies defeated the Magic 126-109. /Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement reaffirming their support for the “principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
But President Trump further upset allies by threatening to impose punitive tariffs on countries that oppose the U.S. takeover. In posts on social media platforms, he said the levy would start at 10% on February 1 and could rise to 25% by June if the opposition does not “surrender”.
European governments responded by rejecting threats and emphasizing solidarity. “The threat of tariffs risks damaging transatlantic relations and sending them into a dangerous downward spiral,” the statement said, adding that the countries “stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland.”