The O2 Arena got tense on Sunday when a heckler interrupted the national anthem just before tipoff, as Vanessa Williams performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” ahead of Grizzlies–Magic.
However, real American basketball fans aren’t staying quiet. They exploded with counterattacks aimed at the London audience. The backlash grew uglier by the hour as fans defended their country’s honor.
One NBA Fan in London Yells “Leave Greenland Alone” During Grizzlies-Magic Anthem
It was the NBA’s first regular-season game in London since 2019, so the excitement was at its peak with a loaded O2 Arena. But nobody expected the chaos to take place as Williams was nearing the anthem’s climax.
Fan footage showed that the chaos erupted when she sang the line “that our flag was still there.” While everyone had their phone lights on, one heckler yelled, “Leave Greenland alone,” and the voice echoed across the arena.
BREAKING: America was just mocked In London today.
Actor Vanessa Williams was performing the Star-Spangled Banner before the Memphis Grizzlies faced the Orlando Magic at the O2 Arena.
Someone yells, “leave Greenland alone!” and the crowd breaks out and applause. Trump is making… pic.twitter.com/SkfWrZGtFr
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) January 18, 2026
He seemingly referenced Trump’s push to acquire Greenland from Denmark. But Williams didn’t flinch as she completed the anthem without acknowledging the disruption from courtside.
But the disrespect didn’t sit well with hoops fans back home.
American NBA Fans Fire Back With Pointed Responses
Home NBA fans refused to let the London crowd have the last word on social media with a number of brutal replies.
“So disrespectful,” one fan wrote.
Another added, “Nobody cares what London thinks.”
A third claimed, “Good let them mock, we’ll mock right back when they institute sharia law nationwide.”
The fourth shared, “The UK and the rest of Europe wouldn’t even exist as it does today if it wasn’t for the USA.”
A fifth shared, “London is the last place you want to smell the smoke. They have been compromised by mass migration already. Good try goof ball!”
Another X user claimed, “Hates the US but those idiots still came to a American sports game.”
The Grizzlies, however, won the game 126-109. Ja Morant celebrated the victory with a bazooka gesture after dropping 24 points in his return from injury. But behind the hardwood action, the active Greenland controversy continues dominating headlines as diplomatic tensions rise.
