In a monumental display of an epic fail, NBC mixed up the names of country singer Mickey Guyton and R&B singer Jhené Aiko during the preshow performance at Super Bowl LVI on Sunday, Variety reports.
Before Guyton was set to sing her rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," the camera panned to her as Aiko was being introduced to sing "America the Beautiful." A chyron then identified Guyton as "Jhené Aiko."
Within seconds, NBC removed the chyron, and then flashed Aiko's name again once Aiko was on-screen.
.@MickeyGuyton’s incredible rendition of the National Anthem! #SBLVI
pic.twitter.com/G6099dDz1U— NFL (@NFL) February 13, 2022
However, Twitter made sure that NBC understood the depth of their disrespect for not properly recognizing the two singers.
@NBCNews
#SuperBowlLVI ummm… who confused Jhene Aiko and Mickey Guyton? Its tone deaf…. (On your part) #mickeyguyton and #jheneaiko . #mickeyandjhene
pic.twitter.com/UVy87K3BVl— mountain mama (@SydHast) February 13, 2022
Mickey Guyton and Jhene Aiko both did an amazing job… still tryna figure out how they were mixed up… "technical difficulties" are always so convenient. Yall had one job. Don't mix up the Black folk during Black History Month. Lol#SuperBowl
#SuperBowlLVI
#BlackHistoryMonth
pic.twitter.com/0byomfmNlz— ✨Crystal MthaFkn Judkins✨ (@XperienceJ) February 14, 2022
Jhene Aiko and Mickey Guyton don't look alike. Tighten up NBC. All black folks don't look alike pic.twitter.com/80dY3FfC1h
— THEE MsNikki_MindYaBusiness85 (@RhondaNicole25) February 13, 2022
Jhene Aiko and Mickey Guyton don't look alike. Tighten up NBC. All black folks don't look alike pic.twitter.com/80dY3FfC1h
— THEE MsNikki_MindYaBusiness85 (@RhondaNicole25) February 13, 2022
Not them showing Mickey Guyton with Jhene Aiko's name underneath. Come on now… pic.twitter.com/EVAKQ1ZOnc
— 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚕 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚑𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚊𝚜𝚝. (@travisfromdabk_) February 13, 2022
did they just show mickey guyton when they announced jhene aiko…
— character actress georgie rae (@georgie_rae_) February 13, 2022
NBC issued a statement on Monday addressing the error.
From NBC Sports spokesperson: “Leading into Jhene Aiko singing ‘America the Beautiful,’ we incorrectly showed Mickey Guyton and misidentified her before showing Aiko’s performance. We apologize to both artists for the error.”
— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) February 14, 2022
"Leading into Jhene Aiko singing 'America the Beautiful,' we incorrectly showed Mickey Guyton and misidentified her before showing Aiko's performance," an NBC Sports spokesperson said in a statement tweeted just before 8 p.m. "We apologize to both artists for the error."
