The parents of 11-year-old Harper Gruzins are defending their daughter's performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" before Saturday's Galaxy-FC Dallas match, claiming critics who called it the worst national anthem performance ever are "mean and hateful."


Gruzins blamed vuvuzelas for the off-key performance in a Fox News interview:

It wasn't my best performance because I couldn't hear myself and the blowhorns got me off key [...] But God allowed this to happen, so I know it's what he wants. So I wouldn't change it. Next time I hope there's no blowhorns.


Gruzins's mother Kelli blamed technical difficulties though neither technology nor vuvuzelas can explain how Harper managed to turn a song that usually lasts 60 seconds into three minutes of ear-splitting misery. [NBC SN]

PREVIOUSLY: This Is The Worst National Anthem Rendition Ever

[Fox News]