ESPN has reversed its decision not to air the national anthem during "Monday Night Football" after the mass shooting in Las Vegas late Sunday that left at least 58 people dead and more than 500 injured.
ESPN had not planned to air the anthem live this week because of NFL players’ ongoing protests during the song, Sporting News reported. ESPN showed the anthem during Week 3 of the season but did not show NFL fans booing and screaming at players who kneeled or sat before or during the anthem.
However, ESPN has decided to air the anthem after the Las Vegas shooting and will have a moment of silence following the anthem for the shooting victims, Fox News reported.
Broadcasters have had to decide whether to draw more attention to the NFL protests by televising the national anthem amid reported drops in ticket sales and some fans saying they won’t watch or attend games until the protests stop.
The protests intensified last weekend after President Donald Trump made comments Sept. 22 that he thought players who protested during the anthem should be fired, but many teams and players reverted back to standing over the most recent weekend. Some players and teams have changed to taking a knee just before the anthem but standing as it plays.
It remains to be seen whether the Las Vegas shooting will have any other effects on the ongoing protests.
Twitter users speculated about whether players would take a knee after the tragic shooting.