Ahead of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team was criticized on social media by some for appearing to turn their backs while World War II veteran Pete DuPré played the national anthem on his harmonica during a July 5 match.
However, once again on social media, that simply wasn't the case.
In their final match before the summer games, the team beat Mexico, but not before several people took to social media criticizing them, in some cases even calling for a boycott of the team, for something that didn't happen.
Several members of the U.S. team denied these claims and said they were not turning their back to DuPré, who was playing on one end of the field but were instead facing the U.S. flag at the other end of the stadium.
The U.S. Soccer Federation responded on Twitter the day of the match, also refuting the claims against the players.
Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and member of the team Carli Lloyd made it short and sweet when explaining what the team was doing as she responded to criticism online.
Players turning their back on DuPré, also known as "Harmonica Pete," would be a curious protest, considering this is not the first time he has performed for "The Star-Spangled Banner" before a USWNT game and has a relationship with the team.
DuPré had that honor before the U.S. women played Mexico in one of their final tune-up matches before the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Prior to that occasion, DuPré met with the USWNT players in Normandy when the team was in France in January 2019.
"It was the most humbling thing I think I've ever been a part of," Lloyd said of the 2019 visit to Normandy and meeting other World War II vets. "They've literally saved the world. And to hear their stories, what they went through, and how they're now sharing those stories, after so many years. I don't think any of us really get the real feel of what they went through."
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The Olympics are set to start on Friday, July 23 almost one year after they were delayed due to the pandemic.
Audacy's Joe Hiti contributed to this story.