Kiwi anthem singer Marla Kavanaugh speaks out about online vitriol

Marla Kavanaugh sang the New Zealand national anthem last month at the All Blacks' match against Fiji in San Diego.

The Kiwi singer who faced heavy criticism after her performance of the New Zealand national anthem has spoken out about the online bullying that left her traumatised.

Marla Kavanaugh performed the anthem at the All Blacks’ match against Fiji match in San Diego last month. Despite the crowd singing along and an overall warm reception, she found out later that was not the case back in Aotearoa.

Speaking to TVNZ’s Breakfast show, she said: “I don’t remember a lot about it because it’s been really traumatic. But I do remember feeling just so proud to represent New Zealand in San Diego ...

“I can tell you I remember this one thing, that when I started off the first verse, I remember feeling like it was a little slow.”

Soprano Marla Kavanaugh. Photo / File

Kavanaugh said she attended a post-match function at which she realised she had several missed calls from her twin sister Maurica.

Kavanaugh, with a hand on her chest, fights back tears as she explains what her sister had been trying to do.

“Time would tell she was trying to get me safely out of the public venue so she could tell me herself.”

She described the messages she received from members of the public as “vicious” and “absolutely savage”.

“The worst were the absolutely vile and vicious messages that came to me through all portals – using language I couldn’t use on morning TV,” she said.

There were threats against her and people calling on her not to return to New Zealand.

Last week, the soprano, who is based in the United Kingdom, cancelled a show she was due to give in Palmerston North because she was too scared to return home.

A statement released by her mother and stepfather earlier said their daughter had received an onslaught of hate mail.

“We are devastated at the reaction, which went far beyond expressions of opinion about her classical voice but instead entered the realm of vitriol, hate and accusation.

“We fear we’ll never see our daughter here again,” they said.

Online bullies had also targeted Kavanaugh’s cleft-affected daughter and made fun of her.

“I never would have expected that from New Zealanders,” she said. “Come for me if you don’t like my singing – fine. Not my child.”