jully black anthem

Toronto singer Jully Black receives racist emails following O Canada anthem change

A week after Toronto singer Jully Black made headlines by switching just one tiny word of the Canadian national anthem when performing, disgusting messages of hate and racism continue to roll in.

On Sunday, Feb. 19, the Juno-award-winning artist performed in Salt Lake City at the NBA All-Star game and made a change to the anthem's lyrics, in solidity with Indigenous communities.

The Canadian Queen of R&B sang "our home on Native land," instead of "our home and Native land," and since then, internet trolls and racist individuals have bombarded the 45-year-old with hate. 

Posting the screenshot of a recent email sent to her inbox and management team, Black said this hate-filled, abhorrent message was just one of many messages she has received.

The six-paragraph email talks about Black's heritage as a Jamaican woman, labeling the country as uncivilized and with incredibly racist descriptions.

Halfway through the email, the sender finally explains why they felt compelled to send such a vile message, incredibly ticked off about the national anthem change.

"This one stung I bit I won't lie," Black said about the post while also adding that the email made her "heart weep that there is this type of hate period."

Whoever sent the message made a point to say they were not white, which sounds exactly like what an unhinged white person hiding behind an email would say.

The email also included a threat, telling Black to "watch and see what happens," if she were to continue to sing the changed anthem.

"I won't flood my feed with any more negative posts I just want you all to see the hate that is coming my way for being an Ally," the artist's Instagram post read.

Her comments are filled with people showing their support for Black, telling her to report the email to the authorities and telling her to not be deterred by the message.

In the days since Black performed, she has also received many messages of support and praise from people applauding for her taking such a stance on a public stage. 

For those who are still angry about this moment (and who are blissfully ignoring Canadian history), the "country" of Canada was "founded" on Indigenous lands, where communities had been living for thousands of years.

Only through the use of treaties, residential schools, and other colonizer systems did the country we know today as Canada come to be. 

"Indigenous peoples have been in Canada since time immemorial. They formed complex social, political, economic and cultural systems before Europeans came to North America," reads the Canadian Encyclopedia. 

Lead photo by

Jully Black


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Music

Here are all the times Taylor Swift came to Toronto on a concert tour

Drake and his dad make surprise appearance at Toronto bar

Coldplay is coming to Toronto for two concerts at the brand new Rogers Stadium

New live music venue opening near Toronto with a concert from a local rock legend

Up-and-coming U.K. musician says she's not afraid of Toronto fans anymore

Resellers are posting bonkers prices for Oasis Toronto tickets that aren't even on sale yet

Rising music star says Toronto is her favourite city

10 must-see concerts coming to Toronto this fall