Josh Levi anthem sparks criticism
Joshua Levi Bolden performed the United States national anthem before the Indianapolis Colts faced the Washington Commanders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on October 4, 2026, during NFL Week 4 action.
Levi received warm applause inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium while several viewers criticized the performance online. Indianapolis later won 30-13 before a crowd of 60,907, giving the ceremony a large live audience in London.
Josh Levi extends notes during anthem
Josh Levi held notes for extended periods during The Star-Spangled Banner. The rendition used an irregular delivery, while video from the event confirms he performed the United States anthem before kickoff in London.
Mimi Webb performed the United Kingdom anthem before the Colts and Commanders began their October 4 matchup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Both national songs were presented before the teams started the London game.
Josh Levi draws online complaints
Josh Levi became a social media talking point after the performance, as multiple viewers criticized his vocal choices. Several negative reactions surfaced online during the October 4 London game.
One viewer called the rendition the worst they had heard, another described it as rough, and a third said the stadium crowd seemed unusually polite. Those comments reflected individual reactions posted during the event.
Josh Levi flag placement draws notice
Josh Levi also received criticism about where he stood during the ceremony, because the performance placed him on a podium positioned over the large United States flag spread across the field before the afternoon kickoff.
One viewer objected to anyone standing on either national flag and raised concerns about flag etiquette. Images from the event show Levi performing from a podium positioned near the center of the United States flag.
Josh Levi prompts a Fergie comparison
Josh Levi was compared with Fergie by at least one viewer, linking the London rendition to another widely discussed anthem performance in sports. Fergie performed at the 2018 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles.
Fergie used a slow, blues-influenced arrangement lasting more than two minutes, drawing mixed reactions from the arena crowd and strong online criticism. The comparison with Levi came from viewers rather than NFL officials or event organizers.
Josh Levi brings an established résumé
Josh Levi brought an established performance career to London. The Houston native became known through The X Factor and also built experience in television, film, and music before appearing at the NFL game.
Levi appeared on Friday Night Lights, later voiced Aaron Z in Pixar’s Turning Red, and performed on Nobody Like U. That song received a 2023 Grammy nomination for Best Song Written For Visual Media.
Josh Levi expands Hydraulic to 20 tracks
Josh Levi released his debut studio album Hydraulic on October 10, 2025. The R&B and soul project contains 15 songs with a combined running time of 39 minutes.
In September 2026, Levi expanded the project with Hydraulic Fueled Up. The expanded edition contains 20 songs and runs 54 minutes, adding five tracks beyond the original 15-song album release.
Josh Levi had European shows scheduled
Josh Levi headlined Oslo Hackney in London on Sept. 29, 2026, five days before his NFL appearance. Brook Rivers was listed as the support artist for that concert.
Levi also performed at La Boule Noire in Paris on Oct. 2. Those European shows took place immediately before his Oct. 4 NFL appearance in London.
NFL London opens a three week run
NFL London opened a three-week United Kingdom run with Colts versus Commanders on Oct. 4. The league scheduled nine international regular-season games across seven countries during the 2026 season, including three contests in London.
The first two international contests were played in Melbourne on Sept. 10 and Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 27. London then hosted Week 4, making Levi’s anthem part of the season’s third international game.
Tottenham hosted 60,907 fans
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium hosted 60,907 fans for the Colts’ victory. The venue lists a capacity of 62,850, so the NFL attendance equaled about 97% of the stadium’s stated maximum capacity.
The stadium opened in April 2019 and has a retractable grass surface above a separate artificial field used for NFL games. Tottenham identifies the venue as London’s largest club football stadium.
Fun fact: Josh Levi was only 14 when he sang live on national television during The X Factor, years before performing at an NFL game in London.
Washington turns to a rookie quarterback
Washington entered the London game without starting quarterback Jayden Daniels, who had been ruled out with a left elbow injury. Marcus Mariota started after guiding the Commanders past Seattle 33-31 in Week 3.
Mariota then left during the first quarter with a right knee injury, forcing rookie Athan Kaliakmanis into his NFL debut. Kaliakmanis completed 15 of 33 passes for 186 yards and one passing touchdown.
Indianapolis wins 30-13
Indianapolis recovered after trailing 6-0 and finished with a 30-13 victory, moving the Colts to 2-2. Washington fell to 1-3 after the defeat at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Jonathan Taylor carried 20 times for 95 yards and scored twice, while Daniel Jones added a rushing touchdown. Taylor reached 408 international rushing yards, the most in league history across three games.
In other news, explore why Mahomes’ roughing penalty draws backlash after the Chiefs beat the Dolphins.
NFL London has two games remaining
NFL London continues with Philadelphia facing Jacksonville at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 11. Jacksonville then meets Houston at Wembley Stadium on October 18, completing London’s three-game regular-season schedule for 2026.
Levi’s October 4 anthem followed scheduled London and Paris shows listed for September 29 and October 2. The performance drew online criticism while also receiving warm applause inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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Josh Levi’s London anthem drew both applause inside the stadium and criticism online. Should national anthem performances stay traditional, or should singers bring their own style? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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