Tag: San Diego Padres

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San Diego Padres Reinstate DJ Artform After National Anthem Debacle

DJ Artform, the man now famously responsible for the humiliating National Anthem incident involving the Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego at the Padres’ Pride Night game has been re-hired by the team following an MLB investigation which found no “malicious intent” behind the error.

As many know by now, Artform was the man who hit “play” on a recording of the Star Spangled Banner this past Saturday for the Gay Men’s Chorus. Unfortunately, he played the wrong recording – one of a woman singing the anthem. The men of the GMC felt humiliated as they could do nothing but stand center field as the full recording continued to play.

Artform has not only issued a heartfelt apology to all those involved, but went on talk radio to explain how the debacle occurred.

The Gay Men’s Chorus accepted Artform’s apology, and publicly asked the Padres to give him a second chance.

DJ Artform shared the news of his reinstatement with the Padres via Facebook:

Speaking from the heart got me this far, so I’ll speak from the heart again as this controversy comes to a close.

First and foremost, I would like to personally thank the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus, MLB and the San Diego Padres for truly understanding what caused the error during the National Anthem. I’m extremely humbled and honored for the tons of support of individuals who truly know my character and for those who had no idea who I was but believed in me from the start.

I am extremely relieved that MLB’s thorough investigation concluded and found the truth behind this entire unfortunate event.

I would also like to thank the entire community for rallying behind me and signing the petition requesting reinstatement of my duties with the San Diego Padres.

I have spoken to an executive within the Padres and,while details have not yet been discussed, have accepted an invitation to return and again provides services to the team.

I truly hope we can continue to build bridges with and between the LGBT community and Major League Baseball, as well as athletics in general.

Once again, I am truly sorry for the incident that occurred and for all those negatively affected, the Chorus in particular. I’ve exposed my heart to the world and I appreciate you all rallying behind this San Diegan.

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San Diego Padres Fired DJ Explains How National Anthem Went Wrong With Gay Men’s Chorus

More info today on the very unfortunate incident at the San Diego Padres baseball game this past weekend which left the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus standing center field, and instead of singing the National Anthem as planned, the men heard a woman’s recorded version of the Star Spangled Banner over the PA system.

DJ Artform (real name Art Romero), who felt he had found his “dream job” combining music and baseball, is the guy who made the mistake of pushing that button.

Artform spoke to radio hosts Scott and BR on The Mighty 1090 about the moment and how it all went down.

Via Towleroad:

“One of the worst nights of my life, and everybody else involved unfortunately. I failed to upload the correct anthem for the gay men’s choir and I went to the first thing I had which was from the prerecording from the night before, and unfortunately obviously that was a solo female artist for the anthem and obviously it didn’t fit to the programming of the day.

Artform says he read the label and thought the Chorus file was for another date. What they play are sometimes CDs, sometimes sound files.

“In a moment of panic I went to the first thing I saw that said anthem and unfortunately the female vocal artist is what played over the PA system, and it was an extremely embarrassing moment.

“Those are my mistakes and I own up to them. I hold myself accountable.//My stomach was in knots. I should have intervened. I should have turned it down. There’s a lot of ‘coulda woulda shouldas ‘that we could have done to avoid the incident…my heart was racing. Every second was an hour.”

“There’s a lot of twists and turns on how this thing got perceived and I understand completely about the issues that have been underlying the LGBT community and the gay men’s choir so this is something that I don’t take lightly.

“I spoke to the director earlier this morning and I gave him my personal apology. I’m doing things on my side to be as constructive and proactive with this whole ordeal and dilemma.

“All I can do at this point is show who I am as a man and as an individual and as a DJ and own up to my mistake and let everybody know there was no malintent or discriminatory actions toward anyone that night. I have family members and friends that are part of the community.”

Listening to Artform tell the tale, you do get the sense that he’s very apologetic about the incident. I guess the one thing I don’t get is: why didn’t he just hit the ‘stop’ button?

As many now know, Artform was fired after the game Sunday night, and Major League Baseball has announced there would be an investigation into the debacle.

You can listen to his story below.

Artform also posted this apology to his Facebook page yesterday:

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. “DJ ARTFORM”

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San Diego Padres Apologize For National Anthem Incident With Gay Men’s Chorus

On Saturday, May 21st, the San Diego Padres hosted “Pride Night,” an annual event welcoming the Padres LGBT fans. As part of the evening, the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus was invited to sing the national anthem.

However, when the time came for the men to sing, a recording of a woman’s voice singing the anthem was played over the sound system and the men could not be heard. Apparently no attempt was made to stop the recording, leaving the men’s chorus standing awkwardly on the field. At the time of the incident, there was no apology or explanation announced.

Later, the Padres issued this statement via Twitter: “This evening, during the pregame ceremony, a mistake was made in the Petco Park control room that prevented the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus from performing the National Anthem as scheduled. We apologize to anyone in the ballpark who this may have offended, and have reached out to the Chorus to express our deep regret for the error.”

More from the Washington Post:

Bob Lehman, executive director of the SDGMC, said via Facebook, “What should have been a night of joy and celebration at Petco Park last night, instead turned into a nightmare raising serious questions about homophobia within the San Diego Padres organization and its relationship with the LGBT community.”

“No attempt was made to stop the recording and start over,” Lehman added. “No announcement of apology was made to the singers or their friends and families in the stands. No attempt to correct the situation occurred other than to force the 100 men to stand in the spotlight of center field for the song’s duration and then be escorted off the field to the heckles of baseball fans shouting homophobic taunts including ‘You sing like a girl.’ ”

“We were just excited to be at a game and let the audience see us and hear us and let us know that we’re sports fans, too, and we’re normal guys,” RC Haus, artistic director for the chorus, told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “And then a woman sings over us, and it was mortifying.”

“I can understand how that [mistake] happens, but what I didn’t understand was why they didn’t stop the track or apologize,” Haus added.

Update #1: The Padres tweeted out another statement Sunday night, in which the team said that an “internal investigation” had revealed “no malicious intent.” However, the “unintentional mistake” did lead San Diego to “take disciplinary action against [an] employee” and let go of a “third-party contractor.” The Padres offered another apology and noted their “commitment to inclusion.”

Update #2: A spokesman for Major League Baseball says the organization will investigate what exactly happened Saturday night.