Well, looks like all the outrage over rapper Jay Z and singer Beyonce Knowles sitting during the national anthem at the Superbowl was much ado about nothing. When a film surfaced showing the couple sitting while the national anthem was being played, it turned into a viral video that elicited criticism and vitriol from right-leaning pundits and no small number of conservatives on social media. Apparently, they immediately assumed that their sitting for the national anthem was a form of protest similar to that of former NFL player Colin Kaepernick. 

You know what they say about assuming, right? 

Well, TMZ got the truth straight from the horse’s mouth when they asked the hip hop artist why they remained seated. During a conversation at Columbia University, Jay Z responded to a professor who asked if their sitting was meant to “convey a signal.” The rapper responded: “It actually wasn’t. Sorry.” 

Jay Z then explained that he and his wife were focused on the performance of Demi Lovato, who sang the anthem. This Super Bowl was the first collaboration between the NFL and Roc Nation, Jay Z’s company, which is now tasked with producing all of the entertainment at Super Bowls. “We immediately jumped into artist mode,” he said. 

He continued, “I’m really just looking at the show. The mics start. Was it too low to start?” The rapper was focused on making sure the audience at the event and at home could “really feel the music.” 

TMZ also explained that Jay Z — who was a minority owner of the Brooklyn Nets — typically stands for the anthem during the team’s games. The outlet stated they, “found photos and video to back that up, including the 2017 NBA All-Star Game.” 

Conservative commentator Tomi Lahren lashed out at the couple, noting Jay Z’s past as a drug dealer because that was relevant for some reason. She claimed they sat for the anthem because they believed the U.S. had, “oppressed them with millions upon millions of dollars & fans.”

Beyoncé & Jay-Z (former crack dealer)sit for the national anthem because apparently the United States of America has oppressed them with millions upon millions of dollars & fans. Sounds rough. Maybe they should try another country that allows them a little more freedom & success?

— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) February 3, 2020

TPUSA founder and conservative activist Charlie Kirk also chimed in on Twitter, calling them “Anti-American spoiled brats.” 

Anti-American spoiled brats Jay-Z and Beyoncé refuse to stand during our Naitonal Anthem

This is why black America is defecting from the Democrats

Ruling class hacks deserve to be exposed

RT to show the world their hatred of our country

pic.twitter.com/yfCqDo2TaR

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) February 3, 2020

There were plenty more who were upset that the couple did not stand for the national anthem, which is quite interesting considering the fact that when he was in the process of signing a promotion deal with the NFL, he distanced himself from Kaepernick’s form of protest. While he initially supported the athlete’s methods, he later pointed out that it was time to pursue their cause in a more effective manner. “I think we’ve moved past kneeling and I think it’s time to go into actionable items,” he told reporters. 

Nevertheless, when the film circulated, people voiced their resentment at the disposition of the couple’s posteriors while the music played. It didn’t seem to occur to most of us that they might have been sitting for a different reason. RedState’s own Kira Davis rightly pointed this out:

“I’m not even sure if they were even making a statement. They might just be lazy. I noticed several others around them sitting. Sometimes people just feel like they don’t need to stand for the anthem when it plays, especially if they are in privileged or crowded seating.”

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that our tendency to immediately jump on the outrage train when someone does or says something of which we don’t approve is a product of a media that wants us perpetually angry at one another. We’ve all been guilty of it at one point or another. And no, I’m not saying every single journalist on the left and the right wish to foment hostility — but unfortunately, that is what is being peddled in far too many instances. The question is: What can we do to push back on the outrage culture in which we find ourselves today?

Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Follow me on Twitter: @JeffOnTheRight