Though a final decision has yet to be made, it would appear that the Tenors "lone wolf" Remigio Pereira has lost his position with the vocal group for his controversial altering of the Canadian national anthem at this week's MLB All-Star Game in San Diego.
As previously reported, the group had released a statement earlier in the week that explained they were "shocked and embarrassed" by Pereira's impromptu changing of the national anthem, which scrubbed out its official lyrics to include the line, "all lives matter to the great."
Now, an interview with the band's Fraser Walters and Victor Micallef has the outfit further explaining that its unlikely they'll be bringing the singer back into the fold.
"I don't think we can see ourselves performing with Remigio again," Walters had told the CBC, with Micallef adding that the lyric change was insulting "to the whole country — two countries."
It's also been noted that the group's Wikipedia page lists Pereira as "no longer with the group," though his likeness still currently appears on their Facebook page.
For his part, Pereira continues to defend his move at Petco Park. In a recorded statement, he claims he meant no disrespect to the Black Lives Matter movement when he said "all lives matter."
"This was not a political statement. I don't agree with killing. So if I don't agree with killing, it means that I don't agree with black people dying. I weep when I see videos of a man just trying to sell a CD and he gets killed, murdered," Pereira said, referencing the shooting death of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge. "Just like I weep if I see a cop get killed, because my cousin is a cop and I know that they put their lives on the line every single day for us."
He goes on to say that "Black lives do matter, they most definitely do," but stayed true to his original message, which ties to his religious beliefs.
"There is no hierarchy, who can be higher than God? No one on this earth, not one person has the right over God's creation. And that is why everybody's life matters. I love you all."
Pereira's lyric change has been criticized by many for a couple of reasons. Beyond altering the national anthem — this itself being an offence to many — the term "all lives matter" has been used as to diminish the message behind the Black Lives Matter movement, which highlights issues of racism and police violence.
You'll find the interview with Walters and Micallef, as well as Pereira's recorded message, below.
UPDATE (7/15, 3:30 p.m. EDT): Pereira has now offered up a formal apology on Facebook. You can watch the video message at the bottom of the page.
As previously reported, the group had released a statement earlier in the week that explained they were "shocked and embarrassed" by Pereira's impromptu changing of the national anthem, which scrubbed out its official lyrics to include the line, "all lives matter to the great."
Now, an interview with the band's Fraser Walters and Victor Micallef has the outfit further explaining that its unlikely they'll be bringing the singer back into the fold.
"I don't think we can see ourselves performing with Remigio again," Walters had told the CBC, with Micallef adding that the lyric change was insulting "to the whole country — two countries."
It's also been noted that the group's Wikipedia page lists Pereira as "no longer with the group," though his likeness still currently appears on their Facebook page.
For his part, Pereira continues to defend his move at Petco Park. In a recorded statement, he claims he meant no disrespect to the Black Lives Matter movement when he said "all lives matter."
"This was not a political statement. I don't agree with killing. So if I don't agree with killing, it means that I don't agree with black people dying. I weep when I see videos of a man just trying to sell a CD and he gets killed, murdered," Pereira said, referencing the shooting death of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge. "Just like I weep if I see a cop get killed, because my cousin is a cop and I know that they put their lives on the line every single day for us."
He goes on to say that "Black lives do matter, they most definitely do," but stayed true to his original message, which ties to his religious beliefs.
"There is no hierarchy, who can be higher than God? No one on this earth, not one person has the right over God's creation. And that is why everybody's life matters. I love you all."
Pereira's lyric change has been criticized by many for a couple of reasons. Beyond altering the national anthem — this itself being an offence to many — the term "all lives matter" has been used as to diminish the message behind the Black Lives Matter movement, which highlights issues of racism and police violence.
You'll find the interview with Walters and Micallef, as well as Pereira's recorded message, below.
UPDATE (7/15, 3:30 p.m. EDT): Pereira has now offered up a formal apology on Facebook. You can watch the video message at the bottom of the page.