Stop criticizing Betsy Wolfe for her phone-holding national anthem performance

Betsy Wolfe -- a Tony-nominated Broadway actress who has been in so many hits from & Juliet to The Last Five Years to Waitress -- is getting so much unnecessary criticism thanks to her performance of the national anthem at New York Yankees opening day.

Fans noticed her holding her phone in her hands as she sang, and although we don't know the exact reason for that, people are guessing it's because she's reading the lyrics to The Star-Spangled Banner.

If that is the case, let me say it loudly: stop it. Stop all the online criticism and TikToks that are ripping on Wolfe.

Because: sure, if I asked you to sing the national anthem, you could probably do it on the spot. But what if I asked you to do it in front of nearly 50,000 people? With around a one-second delay on your vocals that you might hear that would throw you off? Would you remember every word?

And what if you didn't? What if, instead, we were writing about Wolfe bungling the words to The Star-Spangled Banner instead? Isn't that worse?

So what if she needs the lyrics there, just in case? This is perfectly acceptable, professional Broadway actress or otherwise. She did an awesome job and has done so with other anthems with her phone in hand.

Stop it.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Betsy Wolfe national anthem performance with her phone is totally fine