Pat McAfee addressed his critical comments about Canada following fans booing during the US national anthem at WWE’s Elimination Chamber on Saturday.
On today’s Pat McAfee Show, he explained that his strong sense of American pride led him to react defensively.
“Now, Canada. Listen, there’s been some things said to me from Canadians that I guess I respect because of the passion that you have for your country, which I hope you understand that I was showing the same for mine. You booed my country. Now, I heard from a lot of Canadians during the national anthem, obviously the Rogers Center overwhelming boo. I mean, very loud boo. First reaction whenever the national anthem starts up there was for some of these Canadians just start booing, and I’m like, what? Okay, my entire life, my first reaction when somebody boos national anthem is fuck you. I’m very thankful that I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States of America. I’m very proud that I am from the United States of America, and is everything perfect? Absolutely not. But my dad went from being a truck driver to a millionaire because he taught his son a work ethic and that anything is possible on this land here in the United States. Now I know that we’re not the only country that has that happen, but in my life that is the case. I’ve also moved out here to Indiana and got a chance to meet a lot of military members. I’ve been to a lot of bases. I know Gold Star families. I know people that have been affected for fighting for our country, that really see the national anthem as like our, ‘Hey, this is our shit.’ So anytime I’ve ever heard somebody boo our national anthem, my natural reaction is, ‘Let’s fight.’ That is literally my natural reaction. Now, a lot of Canadians have told me, ‘Why don’t you do a little investigating on why we’re booing? Okay, do you hear what your president said?’ Okay, listen, I understand there’s political differences at the current moment between US and Canada, but I feel like anytime I think of Canada, I don’t think of what Justin Trudeau does. I don’t think immediately of Justin Trudeau decisions. I don’t think immediately of what Canada is doing in the political sphere. I think of the people of Canada. I think of Gumpy. I think of poutine. I think of the magical times that I had up in Niagara Falls as a teenager, the wild mushroom, the old casino, the new casino. So even talk about the adult ballets that maybe introduced me to a lot of things in life. I think about loonies in Tony’s and good times in Mounties allowing teenagers puke in their streets because maybe we’re a little bit over served. That’s what I think of. When I think of Canada. I don’t think of Justin Trudeau. Okay, so I understand now from the Canadians that they have a lot more passion for their country than I could have ever imagined. A lot of terrible things have been said about me, and I understand it. You Boo my country. I called your country terrible. Let’s shake hands. Okay? You said you didn’t boo every member of the United States or every citizen United States of America. Well, I didn’t say that Canadians are terrible. I said your country was so you booed us. I said you’re terrible. Let’s shake hands. Let’s move along. That’s what I would like to say. And I still love Canadians. Okay? We got one in the building, literally hired right off of a ship painting job in the Northwest Canada brought him in. His diction, his accent, the words he says, the way he says things, I think, exemplifies what Canadians are as a whole, his attitude, his peace, everything like that. So I love Canadians, but my first reaction whenever you boo our country is okay, let’s fight. And I’m sorry, so let’s go shake their hands. I hope it gets settled.”
I'm very proud and thankful that I'm from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States of America..
Canadians have a lot of passion for their country and I understand it..
You booed our country and I said you're terrible..
Let's shake hands and move along 🤝 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/pG4mvl9jVi
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 3, 2025
These are the MOST STACKED Elimination Chambers that the WWE has EVER had..
THEY BOOED OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM TO START THIS ENTIRE THING..
BUT IT'S GONNA BE A HISTORIC NIGHT #WWEChamber pic.twitter.com/jy8cAYHftd
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 2, 2025
Fans in Toronto boo the American National Anthem at WWE Elimination Chamber. pic.twitter.com/KwCUMdEjHV
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 2, 2025
