# NFL’s French national anthem performer Nina Tonji alters words to La Marseillaise, sparking outrage in France

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/nfls-french-national-anthem-performer-nina-tonji-alters-words-to-la-marseillaise-sparking-outrage-in-france/
- Published: 2026-10-25T23:36:15+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-26T00:38:26+00:00
- Original publisher: Fox News (publisher lean: Far right)
- Original article: https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/nfl-french-national-anthem-performer-nina-tonji-alters-words-la-marseillaise-sparking-outrage-france
- Topics: Europe, Space, Technology, World

## Key points

- Nina Tonji changed a key line in La Marseillaise before an NFL game in Paris.
- The wording shifted from “impure” blood to “united” blood.
- The alteration drew widespread online criticism amid debate over immigration.

## Summary

Nina Tonji changed a line in France’s national anthem, La Marseillaise, while performing before an NFL game in Paris, replacing a word meaning “impure” with one meaning “united”. The change drew a wave of online criticism, amid heightened debate in France over immigration and recent unrest; it matters because the lyric carries revolutionary associations and the alteration gave it a more inclusive meaning.

The performance took place before the Pittsburgh Steelers played the New Orleans Saints at the Stade de France. Tonji’s version changed “May impure blood water our furrows” to “May united blood water our furrows”, shifting the line from a reference to enemies and traitors towards national unity. Posts highlighting the change reached audiences of up to 2.7 million, and many replies called it disrespectful, while some accepted the rewording.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.