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Vanessa Williams trolled for 'Lift Every Voice' performance: 'Beyonce would've done better'

Before starting the performance, she announced they were dedicating it to her ancestors and the newly minted federal holiday - Juneteenth

For Vanessa Williams' fans, two days preceding the 4th of July must have been a celebration on its own. It was then that it was revealed that the singer and actor would not just attend and host the Independence Day festivities at the Capitol on the 4th, but also be a part of the country's official announcement of Juneteenth as its newly designated holiday. Williams, the first Black woman to have been crowned Miss America back in the '80s also sang 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' - the Black National Anthem, at the festivities.

Williams won the Miss America pageant in 1983 and just weeks before the next ceremony, she was asked to resign and her crown was taken away forcefully citing reasons that there was a lot of pressure after Penthouse Magazine published her nudes without permission. That was the last time she was involved in controversy and fast forward to 2021, the singer has found herself in the midst of another after she agreed to take up the gig at the Capitol. 

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Vanessa Williams dedicated the song to her ancestors

Williams sang 'Lift Every Voice' with support from Patrick Lundy & the Ministers of Music. Before starting the performance, she announced they were dedicating it to her ancestors and the newly minted federal holiday - Juneteenth. "So very proud of @VWOfficial Vanessa Williams. Thank you so much for loving this Country and standing proud when haters try. We always have. Love love love ya," read a tweet. "Vanessa Williams has never been more lovely and her singing the #BlackNationalAnthem as the fireworks shower the Capitol is just exquisite. #LetFreedomRing #CapitolFourth #July4th" another tweet read. "Wow! Vanessa Williams live performance of Lift Every Voice and Sing is the high point of this year’s #ACapitolFourth. #July4thPBS" read another tweet. 

There were more who loved Williams' rendition and even called out the trolls. One said: "The beautiful classy Vanessa Williams just sang Lift Every Voice and Sing during the national fireworks and I am crying. It was beautiful. " Another stated: "Vanessa Williams did a nice job Folks who didn't think she should've performed Lift Every Voice & Sing on The 4th of July..."

'Pressure from BLM?'

However, the former Miss America and PBS network also had a lot of hate coming their way. There were many trolls who believed that singing the Black national anthem as part of the celebrations was an unnecessary move. "Why is Vanessa Williams performing the Black National Anthem in DC? Pressure from BLM? Why aren't they performing the Latino, Asian, Native American, Jewish and Middle Eastern National Anthems? Oh, because our National Anthem is for ALL Americans and they do NOT self-segregate!" a tweet read.

"I know Beyonce somewhere pissed, knowing she could've done a way better job on that Black National Anthem performance than Vanessa Williams #ACapitolFourth #July4thPBS #July4th" another tweet read. "There IS no “black national anthem,” sorry. one country. one anthem, which is for ALL Americans, excluding NO ONE. why the need for division?" wrote another Twitter user.

"Vanessa Williams, why don't we ever hear a sincere 'Thank You!' for all the white soldiers who gave their lives to free the [N-word] slaves during the unmerciful Civil War?" read another tweet. "What? I thought we were ALL Americans?! Now divided by color? What happened to one nation, under God. Very soon we are going to sing an Asian or Latino anthem," asked another.