Sevyn Streeter receives formal apology for basketball ban

Basketball officials in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania have apologized to singer Sevyn Streeter after pulling her performance of the national anthem in a dispute over her wardrobe choice.

Streeter had been booked to sing Star-Spangled Banner at the Philadelphia 76ers' game against the visiting Oklahoma Thunder on Wednesday night (26Oct16).

However, minutes before she took to the court, Sevyn claimed home team bosses had told her she couldn't perform because she was wearing a top referencing the Black Lives Matter movement.

Taking to social media, she fumed, "I was suppose to sing the national anthem at the @sixers and @okcthunder game in #Philly but minutes before @sixers organization said I could not because I was wearing a 'We Matters' jersey. WTF! (what the f**k) (sic)".

Fans expressed their outrage at the decision online, and on Friday (28Oct16), team officials issued a new statement admitting they were wrong to have banned Streeter over her choice of clothing.

"We are sorry that this happened," they state. "After receiving feedback from our players, basketball operations staff and ownership group, we believe that the wrong decision was made, and Sevyn should have been welcomed to sing."

They have also invited the singer back for a future game: "We apologize to her, and in an effort to move the conversation forward, we have reached out to offer her an opportunity to return and perform at a game of her choice. We are waiting to hear back."

Streeter has yet to comment publicly on the apology.