Just 12 Hours After Canadian Singer Cassandra DiFruscio Faces Massive NFL Fan Backlash, Seahawks Star JSN Drops Bombshell 11-Word Statement in Surprise Presser — Redefining the Spirit of the NFL
Seattle, Washington – January 10, 2026
Just 12 hours after singer Cassandra DiFruscio became the target of intense online backlash following her performance of the U.S. national anthem before the 49ers vs. Seahawks game, an unannounced moment unfolded at the headquarters of the Seattle Seahawks. With no press release and no prepared remarks, MVP Jaxon Smith-Njigba stepped to the podium during a brief media availability — and delivered a message that was only 11 words long.
The controversy began Saturday night at Levi’s Stadium. While DiFruscio was met with loud applause inside the venue, criticism quickly erupted online, largely centered on the fact that she is Canadian singing the American anthem. Within hours, a familiar NFL pregame ritual was pulled into a broader debate about identity, boundaries, and who belongs on the sport’s biggest stage.
The Seahawks remained silent until the following morning.

After a light practice, Smith-Njigba appeared before reporters. He did not take questions. He did not explain his motivation. He simply looked into the camera and said:
“Respect the person, respect the moment — that’s what this league stands for.”
The room fell silent. Outside it, the message spread instantly. Players from around the league shared the clip. Former stars and analysts described it as a rare instance of the NFL getting the moment exactly right. There was no attack and no rebuttal — just a clear moral line drawn at precisely the right time.
Inside the Seahawks organization, the statement was anything but impulsive. Team sources said Smith-Njigba personally asked to speak, believing that if the league fails to protect the integrity of its moments, it risks losing the very values that define it.
DiFruscio later shared her reaction, explaining how those 11 words arrived when she needed them most:
“There are moments when the noise outside becomes so loud that you almost forget why you stepped onto that stage in the first place. When the criticism moved beyond music and beyond football, he chose to speak — not to defend me as a person, but to protect the meaning of that moment. With just a few words, he reminded me that I wasn’t alone, and that respect still matters in the NFL.”
In a league often dominated by contracts, ratings, and controversy, those 11 words shifted the conversation. The Seahawks move forward in their playoff journey. DiFruscio continues her musical path.
And the NFL — at least for one moment — was reminded that before the noise, people still sit at the center of the game.













