Singer Chris Daughtry angered Fox News viewers Friday during a concert on “Fox and Friends” after he walked off stage and refused to sing “My Country Tis of Thee,” telling the audience he was “off the clock.”
In an awkward exchange with Fox News’ Steve Doocy, Anna Koiman, Clayton Morris and Heather Childers, the “American Idol” finalist was asked to sing “My Country Tis of Thee” to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day.
Clearly caught off guard, Daughtry awkwardly told the hosts he was “off the clock” and began backing away from the stage. As the hosts quickly tried to convince the singer to take the mic and sing, he told the hosts they had “opened a can of worms” and said “this is where I bail.”
Daughtry exited the stage, followed by Doocy and Morris, while the female co-hosts led the crowd in their own rendition of the patriotic song.
The “American Idol” singer’s refusal to sing “My Country Tis of Thee” prompted a bevy of backlash on Twitter, as “Fox and Friends” viewers criticized him for walking off stage.
So disappointing that Chris Daughtry walked off stage this morning instead of singing a patriotic song for D Day #offtheclock
— Rachel England (@rachelengland1) June 6, 2014
@ainsleyearhardt #LOSER DAUGHTRY WALKS OFF STAGE WITHOUT SINGING PATRIOTIC SONG! LOSER!!!!must be a liberal America hater!!
— Barbara Murphey (@GreeneyedMinx2) June 6, 2014
Today @CHRIS_Daughtry refused to play a patriotic song..On D-Day.. No longer a fan. http://t.co/CSSOyJohNp @foxandfriends
— Proud Patriot (@Fesman70) June 7, 2014
It’s “D-Day” for @CHRIS_Daughtry …… D as in DELETE EVERY SONG I HAVE OF YOURS. Thats for dissing our war heroes. #bum
— Watch Dog’s Morsels (@DanMartin_cards) June 7, 2014
Daughtry’s refusal also earned him the “Fool of the Week” designation from “The Five’s” Eric Bolling, who slammed the singer for failing to pay homage to the country’s veterans.
Following the backlash, Daughtry posted a video to his YouTube page apologizing for walking off stage. The singer told fans he was “thrown off” and “unprepared,” and said he “panicked.” Daughtry noted that it was “disrespectful” of him to say he was “off the clock” and exercised poor judgement.
“The worst part of all,” he continued, “I didn’t honor our troops. I didn’t honor our vets who are so deserving, who have sacrificed everything, their lives, have sacrificed everything for our country.”
