Fired Padres DJ Apologizes to Gay Chorus for ‘a Very Unfortunate Mistake’

The disc jockey responsible for playing a recording of a woman singing the national anthem at Petco Park during the scheduled performance of the Star Spangled Banner by a gay choral group has apologized.

The San Diego Padres fired DJ ArtForm after the Saturday evening incident, which also led to an MLB investigation. The DJ calls the song snafu unintentional.

He writes on Facebook:

My deepest apologies and sincere regret toward the entire San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus & the LGBT community for the incident that occurred during the National Anthem. It was a very unfortunate mistake but it was just that, an error. I in no way, shape or form directed any type of hate, bad intent or discrimination towards the Chorus or anyone involved. The incident was not a representation of myself, San Diego & it’s amazing Baseball fans. I have felt the consequences of my mistake as my dream job has dissolved before my eyes which does not take away that I am extremely sorry for the horrible mistake that occurred. I have family members & friends that are a part of the LGBT community & I have always been a supporter of Equal Human Rights, so it pains me greatly to see that I am being accused of acting intentionally. As a former high school and college baseball player, I understand the importance of ensuring equality for all in sports and am appalled by some of the negative, homophobic comments made by fans related to the National Anthem incident. I have reached out to LGBT leaders in San Diego and am currently in discussion regarding a meeting with the Chorus and LGBT leaders personally in order to be as constructive as possible about the error. I’ve let down my City, my family & everyone who had faith in me.

Once again, I’m truly sorry for this entire ordeal.

The aborted performance follows an actual one by the same group at Petco Park last Sepember. Beyond the mistake that prevented them from singing, the group complains of the team’s cheapness: the Padres required the singers to pay for tickets.

The Padres issues an invitation to the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus to sing the national anthem without another version of the song drowning them out at a game in the near future. The group has yet to accept or decline.