'I could not be more embarrassed and sorry'
South African musician Art Matthews apologised after bungling the words to the national anthem on live television on Tuesday night.
“Seriously, I am utterly devastated by tonight,” Matthews posted on Twitter after being criticised on the social network for his performance in Johannesburg during the announcement of the Springbok squad for next month’s Rugby World Cup.
“This was a huge honour for me and I could not be more embarrassed and sorry.”
Barry Tuck tweeted: “What was that song Art Matthews just sang? I didn’t recognise it”.
Shaun Gray wrote: “Art Matthews pulling a Ras Dumisani - Priceless,” referring to the reggae singer’s off-key mutilation of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrica at the Rugby World Cup in France in 2009.
In a statement issued by SuperSport later, Matthews was quoted as saying: “I’ve sung it my whole life and was overcome with emotion. It wasn’t intentional... I support everything about this whole country.
“This was the worst moment of my life. I was so frozen and nervous and my nervousness came out as a laugh. This was no attempt at humour, but a nervous response to an awful situation.”
Springbok captain John Smit accepted the apology.
“This was like a Test debut for him. He was so excited to be doing this. Mistakes happen. Nothing I said could make him feel better,” he said.
SuperSport spokesman Clinton van der Berg said the channel was equally embarrassed and that it was in no way a reflection on SA Rugby.
Matthews founded the rock band Just Jinjer (formerly Just Jinger) and is based in California in the United States.
Musician apologises for anthem bungle
'I could not be more embarrassed and sorry'
South African musician Art Matthews apologised after bungling the words to the national anthem on live television on Tuesday night.
“Seriously, I am utterly devastated by tonight,” Matthews posted on Twitter after being criticised on the social network for his performance in Johannesburg during the announcement of the Springbok squad for next month’s Rugby World Cup.
“This was a huge honour for me and I could not be more embarrassed and sorry.”
Barry Tuck tweeted: “What was that song Art Matthews just sang? I didn’t recognise it”.
Shaun Gray wrote: “Art Matthews pulling a Ras Dumisani - Priceless,” referring to the reggae singer’s off-key mutilation of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrica at the Rugby World Cup in France in 2009.
In a statement issued by SuperSport later, Matthews was quoted as saying: “I’ve sung it my whole life and was overcome with emotion. It wasn’t intentional... I support everything about this whole country.
“This was the worst moment of my life. I was so frozen and nervous and my nervousness came out as a laugh. This was no attempt at humour, but a nervous response to an awful situation.”
Springbok captain John Smit accepted the apology.
“This was like a Test debut for him. He was so excited to be doing this. Mistakes happen. Nothing I said could make him feel better,” he said.
SuperSport spokesman Clinton van der Berg said the channel was equally embarrassed and that it was in no way a reflection on SA Rugby.
Matthews founded the rock band Just Jinjer (formerly Just Jinger) and is based in California in the United States.
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