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Sixers apologize for anthem flap: 'The wrong decision was made'

Jerritt Clark / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty

The Philadelphia 76ers have issued an apology for their decision to bar singer Sevyn Streeter from performing the national anthem at their home opener on Wednesday night.

Sevyn was wearing a shirt that read "We Matter" - a first-person spin on "Black Lives Matter" - and said that was the reason she was bumped from her scheduled performance.

The 76ers did not comment directly on the issue in the immediate aftermath, saying only, "We use our games to bring people together, to build trust and to strengthen our communities."

Here is the statement the organization released on Friday:

We are sorry this happened. After receiving feedback from our players, basketball operations staff, and ownership group, we believe that the wrong decision was made, and Sevyn should have been welcomed to sing. We apologize to her, and in an effort to move the conversation forward, we have reached out to offer her an opportunity to return and perform at a game of her choice. We are waiting to hear back.

Several players, including the Sixers' own Jerami Grant, had come out against the decision before the team issued the apology.

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