A Tampa Bay Buccaneers star sat out the national anthem on Sunday to protest the election of Donald Trump as president, calling it a "joke."
"I'm not big on politics or things like that but I told myself I said if this happens, then America's not right right now," wide receiver Mike Evans told reporters after his refusal to stand for "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the start of the Buccaneers-Chicago Bears game.
"I said this a long time ago, when he ran, I thought it was a joke, and the joke continues. As long as he's president-elect [I will protest] …
"It's not about the Republican Party … It's just who he is. It's well documented what he's done, you know, and I'm not gonna stand for something I don't believe in. That's the end of that."
Evans is the latest player to remain sitting during the national anthem following the lead of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who's been staying put to protest racism and police killings of African Americans.
Evans said: "I'm doing it for a different reason, for how a reality star can be the president. That's not a good look for America."
He also insisted he meant no respect to the nation's military by launching his protest the Sunday after Veteran's Day.
"I don't want to disrespect the veterans or anything. The men and women that serve this country, I'm forever indebted to them," Evans said.
"But the things that's been going on in America lately, I'm not going to stand for that. You know, when Ashton Kutcher comes out and says we've been Punk'd, then I'll stand again. But I won't stand anymore."
The Buccaneers barreled over the Bears 36-10.
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