Kate Upton: ‘Horrific’ to sit during national anthem on Sept. 11

“Sitting or kneeling down during the national anthem is a disgrace to those people who have served and currently serve our country,” Upton wrote on Instagram Sunday night. “Sitting down during the national anthem on Sept. 11 is even more horrific.”

“Protest all you want and use social media all you want. However, during the nearly two minutes when that song is playing, I believe everyone should put their hands on their heart and be proud of our country for we are all truly blessed,” she added.

The controversy over what the national anthem represents was ignited a few weeks ago when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat during “The Star-Spangled Banner” at one of his team’s preseason games. He claimed after the game his intention was to draw attention to racial inequality and police brutality in the U.S.

Since then, Kaepernick has been joined by teammate Eric Reid, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane and Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall in kneeling during the national anthem.

On Sunday, Kansas City Chiefs safety Marcus Peters raised his fist during the song, and four Miami Dolphins players — Arian Foster, Jelani Jenkins, Kenny Stills and Michael Thomas — took a knee.

Upton, who is engaged to Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, was taken to task for her stance on the issue by journalists Soledad O’Brien and Roland Martin on Twitter, to which she clarified that she believed the players can and should make their voices heard — just not on 9/11.

She was not the only celebrity to denounce the idea of protesting the national anthem on 9/11. On Saturday, actor Rob Lowe tweeted that Sunday is “not their moment,” and that any NFL player planning on sitting should do so from the locker room.