Heckler Interrupts Vanessa Williams’ National Anthem Performance Before NBA London Game: ‘Leave Greenland Alone!’

Vanessa Williams’ performance of the U.S. national anthem was briefly disrupted by a heckler during the NBA’s London game on Sunday, Jan. 18.

The unidentified person interrupted Williams, 62, as she sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” before tipoff between the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic at London’s O2 Arena. About midway through the song, the heckler shouted, “Leave Greenland alone!”

Both teams were already on the court when the shout rang out. According to the Associated Press, the crowd responded with “scattered laughter and applause,” while Williams appeared unfazed and continued her performance.

Footage of the moment is visible in a video shared on YouTube.

The Grizzlies went on to beat the Magic 126–109, marking the first NBA game played in London since 2019.

The heckler’s comment came as President Donald Trump has said he is pursuing a “range of options” to acquire Greenland. On Sunday, Jan. 18, PBS NewsHour reporter Nick Schifrin posted what he said was a copy of a letter from Trump to Norway’s prime minister, tying Trump’s loss of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to his current interest in Greenland.

In the letter, Trump wrote: “Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.”

The London matchup was one of two games between the Grizzlies and the Magic in Europe. The teams previously played in Berlin, Germany, on Thursday, Jan. 15, where Orlando rallied for a 118–111 win, highlighted by Anthony Black’s viral dunk over four Grizzlies defenders.