Just a few minutes on stage were enough to ignite a firestorm online, as the country singer’s rendition of the national anthem quickly drew thousands of divided reactions. While some praised the emotional performance, others called it one of the event’s biggest disappointments.

Kash Patel’s girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins, has once again publicly defended her appearance at the Great American State Fair after facing a wave of online criticism over her performance of the U.S. national anthem.

Wilkins, 27, sang at the opening of the Freedom250 celebration on June 24 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., an event tied to the lead-up to America’s 250th Independence Day. The 16-day program, which runs through July 10, has drawn attention not only for its scale but also for the number of originally announced performers who stepped away before the launch.

Several acts reportedly pulled out ahead of the event, including Martina McBride, Morris Day and The Time, rapper Young MC, The Commodores, Bret Michaels, and Jodie Rocco of Milli Vanilli. Some cited concerns about the event’s direction and controversy surrounding its political associations.

After Wilkins’ performance aired, social media quickly filled with critical reactions questioning both her vocal delivery and her presence on the lineup. Comments ranged from jokes about autotune to dismissive remarks about sound quality, with some users suggesting she was included because of her relationship with the FBI director.

One user wrote, “You can hear a better rendition at any high school ball game,” while another joked, “They didn’t allow the autotune this time?” Others added sarcastic remarks about the timing and audio, with one post saying, “It’s 11 pm and I’ve already taken my hearing aids out for the night.”

Amid the backlash, Wilkins responded directly on social media, pushing back against claims that her performance was politically or financially motivated.

“I have been a country music artist for years now. I have had a successful career in both music and commentary/strategy. People don’t get to negate that for clicks or headlines,” she wrote. She added that she was invited to perform “on my own accord,” noting that she has sung the anthem at many other events throughout her career.

Wilkins also addressed speculation about payment and funding, insisting she did not receive compensation for the appearance.

“I am not accepting payment for this great honor,” she stated, adding that the Freedom250 celebration is supported by a fundraising arm and is not taxpayer funded.

She concluded by warning that she would continue to respond to what she called misleading narratives and unfair accusations, saying she would no longer accept claims that diminish her work and accomplishments.

The controversy surrounding Wilkins has also been amplified by wider scrutiny of her relationship with Kash Patel, which has previously drawn public attention due to their age gap and online speculation. In earlier reports, she was falsely accused by some social media users of being an intelligence asset, claims that were widely circulated without evidence.

Separately, Patel’s use of security resources and travel arrangements has also been the subject of online debate, with critics questioning whether some movements were related to official duties or personal matters.