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Macy Gray slammed for saying 'tattered' Stars and Stripes should be changed

In a recent op-ed piece ahead of Juneteenth, Gray wrote that the flag has 'replaced' the Confederate flag, implying it is a symbol of racism

Macy Gray recently argued in an op-ed that the country is in need of a new flag and that the Old Glory is "tattered, dated, divisive and incorrect". She even offered her own design to get some creative spirit going.

In a recent op-ed piece for MarketWatch ahead of Juneteenth, Gray writes that the flag has "replaced" the Confederate flag, implying it is a symbol of racism. "It no longer represents ALL of us," Gray wrote. "It’s not fair to be forced to honor it. It’s time for a new flag."

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She added that the flag needs to be redesigned to represent all Americans, and also said that the symbolism of Old Glory was harmed during the US Capitol riot of January 6, 2021. 

"Like the Confederate, it is tattered, dated, divisive, and incorrect," Gray wrote. "It no longer represents democracy and freedom. It no longer represents ALL of us. It’s not fair to be forced to honor it. It’s time for a new flag."

The singer added that the stars on the flag fail to represent Washington DC and Puerto Rico. Gray made a proposal for a new flag, with off-white stripes, "52 stars to include DC and Puerto Rico," and stars "the colors of ALL of us - your skin tone and mine - like the melanin scale." She said that she'd keep the blue square for "vigilance" and the red stripes for "valor". 

She claimed that the white stripes meant to represent purity and innocence are not an accurate way to depict the country. "America is great," Gray said. "It is beautiful. Pure, it ain’t. It is broken and in pieces."

"Sixty-two years later, in 2021, we have changed and it’s time for a reset, a transformation," she concluded. "One that represents all states and all of us."

Needless to say, this suggestion has been met with mixed reactions online. "Not changing the flag because some celebrity opinion. What the flag means and stands for has never changed. The failure of the people in this country to live up to it's meaning is the change that needs to happen," one user said. 

"Hey @MacyGraysLife, I don't like to brag, but we're kinda proud of that ragged old flag," Jenna Ellis, who served as an attorney for former President Trump, tweeted. "@MacyGraysLife had one hit song about 20 years ago and hasn’t done anything since," Republican Lavern Spicer, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in Florida last year, wrote. "Now she wants to come out from the dark and say that she hates our flag. Your world would crumble if you weren’t in America."

One user tweeted, "So, is she going to give up all the money she's earned, while under the American flag or is she just another loud mouth rich hypocrite, badmouthing the very country that made her rich? Don't like American Flag, go to the s**thole country's flag you like!"

One user pointed out, "Everybody’s all mad that Macy Gray says the US should get a new flag. We have redesigned our flag before. Or have we all forgotten…?" Another user seemingly tweeted in her favor. "Ironic, those denouncing Macy Gray are the same ones who applaud the Insurrectionists who beat Capitol police w/American flags. They also support autocracy & Putin. So which red, white & blue are you supporting? The hypocrisy is galling." 

Another said, "The kind of people who fly the thin blue line and confederate flags — the kind who beat a US police officer with a flagpole flying the American flag — are upset with Macy Gray." And one more added, "Gotta love that the same people who are flying Blue Line flags outside their homes instead of the Stars and Stripes are upset about Macy Gray talking smack."