Flyers Take Down Kate Smith Statue Amid Racist Songs Scandal

PHILADELPHIA — Days after the Philadelphia Flyers decided to stop playing Kate Smith's iconic version of "God Bless America" during games, the team announced a statue of the singer would be taken down. The Flyers last week covered the statue with black cloth and tied it with rope. On Sunday, the team said the Smith statue outside the arena was removed.

"The Flyers have enjoyed a long and popular relationship with 'God Bless America,' as performed by the late Kate Smith, a woman who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor for her patriotic contributions to our nation," the team said in a statement. "But in recent days, we learned that several of the songs Kate Smith performed in the 1930s include lyrics and sentiments that are incompatible with the values of our organization, and evoke painful and unacceptable themes."

The rendition, therefore, would no longer be played, the team said. The statue was removed Sunday from its location outside the arena.

"The NHL principle 'Hockey is for Everyone' is at the heard of everything the Flyers stand for," said team President Paul Holmgren. "As a result we cannot stand idle while material from another era gets in the way of who we are today."

The New York Yankees and Flyers both played Smith's version of the song.

Smith recorded multiple offensive songs, The New York Daily News first reported,including songs called "That's Why Darkies Were Born."