Michael Strahan says he’s ‘not proud’ after breaking silence

Article content

Michael Strahan has broken his silence after a whirlwind few days of controversy.

Article content

The retired NFL star turned Fox Sports analyst took to Instagram to explain his actions this week after being heavily criticized for not properly honouring the U.S. national anthem on Sunday and then having a heated exchange with a reporter on Tuesday when asked for comment.

The Hall of Fame pass rusher posted a video to his Instagram account Tuesday night explaining why he didn’t cover his heart when the Star Spangled Banner was played and also expressed regret about his confrontation with the reporter.

“I feel like I need to address it because it’s spilled over to the point where I get out of my car today and I’m ambushed by a media outlet here at my house,” he began the clip, referencing the spat with the reporter from Britain’s Daily Mail.

Article content

Article content

Article content

“I’m not proud of the way I handled that whole situation, but I think anybody out there can understand the things you’re gonna do. You’re gonna protect your family and you’re gonna protect your home, which I felt like I needed to do in that moment.”

Strahan then revealed what caused his viral national anthem blunder, saying he was too busy admiring the U.S. navy personnel before realizing his mistake.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

‘If you want the truth, I’ll tell you the truth … it’s that I was caught up in the moment,” he said. “I’m looking at all these young sailors standing there at attention before the national anthem played and I’m thinking to myself, ‘How incredible to be that young and to know that you wanna do this. It’s such a commitment but you’re willing to commit to something that gives us our freedoms.’ Plain and simple.

Article content

“I’m just sitting there in amazement and I’m always amazed, because I don’t take it for granted no matter where we go around the world from Afghanistan to all the military institutions here in this country.

“And by the time I looked up from that moment, all my five guys had their hands over their hearts, the national anthem’s playing… I somewhat panic and I’m like, “Do I be the fool that puts his hand over his heart after [the anthem starts]? Or do I just stand here with my hands in front of me respectfully?” And that’s what I did. That’s what happened.

“And if that offended any of our military and veterans, I apologize to you. Because that was never my intent.”

The former Good Morning America and Live! With Kelly and Michael co-host also highlighted that he was raised in a military family and that his own father served.

Article content

“I’m a product of the military, a proud lover of the military and a proud lover of who served before, now and who will serve in the future,” he said.

Article content

“I did a two-hour show praising the military and all that they’ve done for us, celebrating Veterans Day,

“We had our national anthem, I didn’t have my hand over my chest. Everyone thought, ‘He’s protesting. He’s making a statement,’ which is so far from the truth.

“I have nothing to protest, I have no statements to be made. The only statement that should be made and that I wanna make is I love the military, I’ve always loved the military and I will always love the military. I do so many programs to help veterans and soldiers. I grew up on a military base with a father who was a major in the army. My brother, my sister, my cousins… they all served in the military.

“I’m a military brat. And so the fact that (people are) saying I’m unpatriotic couldn’t be further from the truth.”

According to reports, Strahan will not face any discipline for the incidents from Fox.

Article content