NFL’s French national anthem singer Nina Tonji changes lyrics to La Marseillaise, sparking outrage in France

Words often count as much as actions and, amid the civil unrest that France has felt in recent days, some French people are apparently angry and offended by the changing of their national anthem ahead of the NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints.

And yes, this concerns immigrants in France.

Before the match, singer Nina Tonji performed La Marseillaise at the Stade de France. Although she received warm applause afterward, there was significant backlash online because she changed the lyrics of the song.

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Tonji has changed “Let impure blood water our furrows!” has “Let a united song water our furrows!,” and this was clearly done on purpose as it has political and societal ramifications.

“Let impure blood water our furrows” means “Let impure blood water our furrows/fields”. In the revolutionary context of La Marseillaise, “impure blood” referred to enemies and traitors – particularly French immigrants fighting alongside foreign armies.

Replacing impur (“impure”) with united (“united”) changes the meaning of the transition from a call for enemy blood to nourish French soil to a call for national unity and solidarity that includes immigrants to nourish French soil.

Pittsburgh Steelers players run onto the field before an NFL game against the New Orleans Saints in Saint-Denis, near Paris, Sunday, October 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurélien Morissard)

Tonji thus changed the tone of the song from a violent exclusion of a foreign enemy to a message of unity with foreigners.

It gave immigrants coverage that La Marseillaise had not done in 1792 when it was written during the French Revolution.

And, yes, this rendition represented a lyrical modification of the Tonji that departed from the traditional wording of the French national anthem. But this comes at a time when the French are worried about immigration and foreigners.

The Soul Rebels perform the American national anthem before an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints in Saint-Denis, near Paris, Sunday, October 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)

This is because at least some of the protesters who took to the streets during the past two weeks of civil unrest were immigrants. Some have rallied around anti-Israel causes, while others have called for the overthrow of the current political system.

As expected, there was a backlash online.

This is where we also inform you that Tonji was born in Montreal, Canada.

Much of the attention she receives now comes from highly followed media accounts.

Cerfia posted the song to her 1.3 million followers and highlighted the changes made.

RMC Sport posted it to its 2.7 million followers, saying the change caused “confusion”.

Francetvsport also broadcast the song to its 297,500 followers.

Saints players wave before an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints in Saint-Denis, near Paris, Sunday, October 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)

Responses to the viral posts included some people willing to ignore the change. But a large majority insulted everything from Tonji’s voice to her appearance to the action itself, calling it “scandal,” “disrespectful” and “controversy.”

It seems that some French people are proud of their national anthem.

So here’s a common-sense approach the NFL should adapt to avoid these PR black eyes — as the league gets a lot of media coverage over national anthem performances gone awry.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

The league, which is supposed to have a right of refusal on these pregame and even halftime acts, can easily force artists to sign binding contracts requiring them to perform the songs as written.

Of course, perform as much as you want, the league can tell the artists. This is what makes you an artist.

But don’t change the lyrics to suit a personal agenda or feeling. Because that makes you an activist.

FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO