Hold onto your maple leaves, folks -- Rufus Wainwright just turned a solemn anthem into a political soapbox at the World Series, and the crowd isn’t singing his praises.

During Wednesday night’s Toronto Blue Jays versus Los Angeles Dodgers matchup in California, Wainwright’s pre-game performance of "O Canada" sparked a firestorm when he swapped lyrics, seemingly taking a swipe at President Donald Trump, while just two days earlier, another Canadian singer, JP Saxe, faced similar heat for meddling with the same song, as the Daily Mail reports.

Mere days before Wainwright’s stunt, JP Saxe performed the Canadian national anthem and changed "Our home and native land" to "Our home on native land," a tweak that had social media erupting with criticism.

Earlier controversy with JP Saxe's rendition

Canadian viewers and online commentators didn’t hold back, slamming Saxe’s rendition as a disservice to national pride.

One American observer even chimed in, saying, “I'm an American, and that was the WORST rendition of the Canadian Anthem I've ever heard!! MLB owes the Canadians an apology.”

Well, if MLB thought that was the end of anthem woes, they were sorely mistaken -- Saxe’s misstep was just the opening act before a historic 6-5 Dodgers win in the 18th inning against the Blue Jays.

Wainwright’s lyric change sparks backlash

Fast forward to Wednesday night, and Rufus Wainwright took the stage before the Blue Jays-Dodgers clash, only to alter "in all of us command" to "that only us command" in "O Canada."

Many saw this as a not-so-subtle jab at Trump’s earlier remarks about Canada as a potential ‘51st state,’ and let’s just say the internet wasn’t feeling the creativity.

Social media platforms lit up with frustration, as fans decried what they saw as a deliberate act of disrespect toward a national symbol.

Criticism extends beyond lyrics

Beyond the lyric switch, Wainwright’s vocal delivery also took a beating, with critics arguing it fell flat for such a high-profile event.

Toronto Sun political columnist Brian Lilley posted, “It’s not only changing the words, it’s how bad Rufus Wainwright sang the anthem. He’s a good singer normally but this was just awful.”

Lilley’s point hits a nerve -- when you’re representing a nation, shouldn’t the performance at least sound like a tribute, not a protest?

National pride vs. personal statements

Look, artists have a right to their views, but there’s a time and place, and a national anthem at the World Series isn’t it.

Twisting sacred lyrics for a political dig -- whether at Trump or broader policies -- feels like a cheap shot when millions are watching to celebrate sport, not spar over ideology.

Perhaps it’s time for performers to remember that some traditions deserve respect, not revision, especially when they’re meant to unite rather than divide.