Nina Tonji sparks controversy by altering French national anthem in Paris

During the first NFL game held in France at the Stade de France, singer Nina Tonji sparked significant controversy by modifying the lyrics of the national anthem, ‘La Marseillaise’. During the performance, Tonji replaced the traditional line ‘may impure blood water our furrows’ with ‘may united blood water our furrows’.

The alteration drew immediate criticism from spectators and social media users, who viewed the change as a lack of respect for a historical symbol of the French Republic. While the original 1792 lyrics have been subject to debate regarding their connotations, the French government clarified in 2023 that ‘impure blood’ referred to nobles who betrayed the nation rather than foreigners.

Despite the musical debate, the NFL game saw the Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the New Orleans Saints 16–10, marking Pittsburgh's third consecutive victory.