Kate Upton
 
By: Jeff Eisenband -
9/12/2016

Kate Upton, one of the highest-grossing and most popular models in the world, has 2.24 million Twitter followers, so when she started tweeting about NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem Sunday, the conversation got heated.




In my opinion, the national anthem is a symbolic song about our country. It represents honoring the many brave men and women who sacrifice and have sacrificed their lives each and every single day to protect our freedom. Sitting or kneeling down during the national anthem is a disgrace to those people who have served and currently serve our country. Sitting down during the national anthem on September 11th is even more horrific. Protest all you want and use social media all you want. However, during the nearly two minutes when that song is playing, I believe everyone should put their hands on their heart and be proud of our country for we are all truly blessed. Recent history has shown that it is a place where anyone no matter what race or gender has the potential to become President of the United States. We live in the most special place in the world and should be thankful. After the song is over, I would encourage everyone to please use the podium they have, stand up for their beliefs, and make America a better place. The rebuilding of battery park and the freedom tower demonstrates that amazing things can be done in this country when we work together towards a common goal. It is a shame how quickly we have forgotten this as a society. Today we are more divided then ever before. I could never imagine multiple people sitting down during the national anthem on the September 11th anniversary. The lessons of 911 should teach us that if we come together, the world can be a better and more peaceful place #neverforget.

A photo posted by Kate Upton (@kateupton) on

Upton also reposted an Instagram post by her fiance and Detroit Tigers pitcher, Justin Verlander.


Well ... Twitter went in on Upton.












Yeah, perhaps a white model criticizing an image of athletes of color was not going to end well for her. The photo that Upton shows Miami Dolphins players taking a knee during the national anthem in Seattle. The Dolphins' opponent, the Seahawks, stood during the national anthem and interlocked their arms as a team as a sign of unity.


Upton didn't duck, as she answered some tweets from political commentators Soledad O'Brien and Roland Martin. O'Brien is half-Cuban and half-Australian. Martin is African-American (of Haitian descent).




-- Follow Jeffrey Eisenband on Twitter @JeffEisenband.

Civil Rights, Colin Kaepernick, criticism, Detroit Tigers, Football, Justin Verlander, Kate Upton, kneeling, Miami Dolphins, model, Modeling, National Anthem, NFL, Protest, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Troll, Twitter, week 1