Jamie Foxx sings national anthem, social media not impressed

Actor Jamie Foxx went a little off script while singing the national anthem before Saturday’s welterweight title fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Foxx, who is set to portray Mike Tyson in an upcoming biopic about the former heavyweight champion, was criticized on social media for his take on the song, which included him singing a “hallelujah” at the end.

Mayweather didn’t seem too fazed by Foxx’s performance as he readied for the fight, but Foxx struck a chord with some folks on Twitter.

Jazz pianist and music producer Robert Glasper wrote: “I actually like Jamie Foxx as a singer...but lastnight was pretty damn funny lmao!!!! Did he sing hallelujah at the end???”

Another critic was Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley: “How about all singers agreeing if you DON’T want to sing the National Anthem as it was written YOU WON’T SING IT! What was THAT?!?”

Although Foxx’s take on the national anthem didn’t come close to the boo-inducing caterwauling that rattled through San Diego’s Jack Murphy Stadium before a Padres game in 1990, it also didn’t remind anyone of Whitney Houston’s performance before Super Bowl XXV.

What do you think about Foxx’s take on the national anthem?

Read the Los Angeles Times’ special edition Flipboard digital magazine Mayweather vs. Pacquiao