On Pride Night, NHL Team Swaps Emmy-Nominated Singer for LGBT Singer Who Didn’t Know Canadian Anthem

A feature image of Beau Davidson, host of The Beau Show, produced by NTD Television. Courtesy of NTD

Ahead of Pride Night, an NHL team swapped Emmy-nominated singer Beau Davidson for an LGBT singer who didn’t even know the lyrics to the Canadian national anthem.

Davidson said the NHL team asked him months ago to perform the U.S. and Canadian national anthems for the Panthers’ March 23 matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“Months ago, I was invited to perform the American and Canadian national anthems for the Florida Panthers, who were playing the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs,” said Davidson on his NTD show, “The Beau Show,” and in a preview clip posted on social media.

“But just days before, I was replaced in lieu of [sic] [by] Ryan Michael James,” he continued. “I received an email that another singer had been requested by executive management due to the visibility of Pride Night. So I went to the game to see my replacement.”

Davidson played a video of James performing, appearing not to know the lyrics of “O Canada.”

What happened to Davidson went against the NHL Declaration of Principles, as the singer pointed out.

Part of the declaration reads: “We believe all hockey programs should provide a safe, positive, and inclusive environment for players and families regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status. Simply put, hockey is for everyone.”

“But they broke their own policy,” said Davidson. “And if hockey is for everyone, why was I removed? And what does that have to do with singing our beloved national anthem?

Davidson pointed out that players have been sitting out on Pride Nights for reasons ranging from religious beliefs to personal security. They are not being bigoted. After all, those players have expressed respect for others’ beliefs.

“This is not about bigotry. This is about being who you are and being true to yourself. The very thing the LGBTQ community craves,” he said. “But in the name of diversity, equity, and inclusion, one identity is elevated at the expense of and discrimination against another. Is this truly something to be proud of?”

Davidson has performed the national anthem at numerous sports games, including the Panthers’ Feb. 11 matchup against the Colorado Avalanche.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the Florida Panthers and the NHL for comment.

In an interview with The Epoch Times, Davidson called what happened to him discriminatory.

“It was discrimination. I think that’s what the real keyword is because what I can tell from the explanations that were given to me was more about them choosing the singer’s identity than the singer’s merit,” he said.

“And because I had been previously booked and this happened so close to the date, it feels to me, but it’s spelled out in text, that I was removed because of my orientation in favor of another one,” he continued.

Nonetheless, Davidson said he would not take legal action against the Panthers, who have not contacted him since the incident.

Finally, Davidson said that despite the incident, he would sing the national anthem for the Panthers if asked.

“The reason I sing the national anthem is for everyone. It’s for a country, it’s for a flag, [and] it’s for a sacrifice that has something much greater to do than me,” he said. “When I sing, I make it pretty clear that it’s not about me. I try to be as true to the song as I can without getting too decorative. And, I think, from what I can tell, at least people have appreciated that.

“So I welcome the chance to sing the national anthem for any organization that will support me and recognizes the merit of what it is I do and really not about me, Beau Davidson, singing. It’s about the country. So, again, I put my identity, whoever I am, aside to sing the song. So I welcome any opportunity to sing.”

“The Beau Show” airs on March 27 at 8 p.m. ET on EpochTV.