Christopher Jackson, best known for playing George Washington in the hit Broadway musical Hamilton, had an embarrassing moment at Citi Field during the New York Mets’ Opening Day on Thursday. Jackson forgot the words to The Star-Spangled Banner while performing it live in front of a large crowd of baseball fans who had gathered to celebrate the start of the new season.
The moment was caught on video and quickly spread across social media, with many fans and viewers reacting to the flub. Jackson visibly paused mid-performance before recovering and finishing the anthem, but the mistake had already been noticed by thousands in attendance and millions watching online. The clip went viral within hours of the event.
What made the moment especially ironic was that Jackson spent years portraying one of America’s Founding Fathers on one of Broadway’s biggest stages. According to Brobible, he originated the role of George Washington in Hamilton and performed it hundreds of times. Playing George Washington night after night made his slip-up on a patriotic song all the more surprising to fans.
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Forgetting the anthem on a big stage is a reminder that even seasoned performers are human
Jackson has not been the first performer to forget the national anthem at a major sporting event, and he likely won’t be the last. The pressure of performing live in front of a packed stadium, with cameras rolling and millions watching, is something that can trip up even the most experienced entertainers.
Following the incident, Jackson addressed the moment publicly. He said, “I want to apologize to the Mets organization, their fans, and anyone who was there or watching. I am mortified and truly sorry.” His apology was straightforward and did not make excuses for what happened.
The Mets organization has not made any public statement criticizing Jackson over the incident. The Opening Day event otherwise went ahead as planned, with the Mets kicking off their new season in front of their home crowd at Citi Field.
Off the field, the sports world has had plenty of other talking points recently. For those following celebrity and sports crossover stories, fans have been eager to learn details about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding after Kylie Kelce gave a limited but closely watched response on the topic.
In other sports news, the NFL has also been facing some off-field pressure. Florida’s Attorney General challenged the NFL’s Rooney Rule as discriminatory and gave Commissioner Roger Goodell a deadline of May 1 to end the policy, threatening legal action if the league does not comply.
Published: Mar 27, 2026 12:45 pm