In The Know

Country singer mocking NFL protests goes viral

A country music singer is taking aim at the NFL protests with a new song called “Take a Knee, My Ass (I Won’t Take a Knee).”

Neal McCoy performed the song for an audience earlier this month and recorded it on Facebook Live. The video of the performance has garnered nearly 70,000 reactions.

“When I see someone on TV take their stand by bending their knee, whether it be on astro turf or grass,” McCoy sings. “I think of those whose freedom was not free, and I say: ‘Take a knee — my ass!’ ”

The song is a response to the protests against police brutality and racial inequality, where dozens of professional athletes — primarily in the NFL — kneeled during the national anthem before games.

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The protests sparked outcry from conservatives, who said the action was disrespectful to the military.

President Trump also slammed the protests, calling for NFL team owners to fire players who refused to stand during the national anthem.

“I’ve been on 15 USO tours,” McCoy told reporters. “I’ve entertained our troops in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and all over the world. So, no, this is not a money grab. This is a guy that believes in our country, that does not like people kneeling, not standing with their hands over their hearts, for the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. That’s what I’m about.”

McCoy has filmed himself saying the Pledge of Allegiance nearly 700 times on Facebook.