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A Chicago Cubs fan whose slap of a younger spectator during the national anthem went viral has identified himself as Vietnam veteran Robert “Bob” Chavez. On July 19, ahead of the Cubs’ game against the Minnesota Twins at Wrigley Field, Chavez confronted a fan who remained seated during the national anthem before striking him on the back of the head in an incident that was captured on video and widely shared across social media.
Now, as reported by NBC Chicago, Chavez has explained on “Inside Edition” what prompted his actions, sharing details about his military service during the Vietnam war and, what happened after the widely circulated video ended. He explained that his military service and personal losses shaped his reaction, which is why he became emotional. He said, “Even though I fought in Vietnam and had buddies killed, we fight for the rights of people and that’s one of his rights.”
Chavez added that he acknowledged that he lost his composure and later apologized for his actions. According to Chavez, the younger fan accepted the apology and apologized as well. “Then later on during the game, next thing you know, he’s buying me a beer. We talk, we shook hands. I overreacted. I could’ve handled it better; I wish I would have. But my feelings are still the same: people should stand.”
The Cubs respond after viral incident
No information about the younger fan has been made public. Still, it made sense why Chavez reacted that way. For many military veterans, the national anthem can carry profound personal meaning because of their service, the people they served alongside, and those who did not return. The Vietnam War resulted in heavy casualties, with more than 58,000 U.S. military personnel killed and millions of Vietnamese military members and civilians losing their lives.
The interaction did not warrant any police response, according to reports, meaning that there was likely no law enforcement during the exchange. Meanwhile, in a response Cubs said security personnel spoke with the younger fan following the altercation, with the latter confirming Chavez’s narrative that they had resolved the issue privately. The Cubs reiterated that fans may choose whether to stand during the anthem but must treat others respectfully and avoid physical confrontations.
“The National Anthem is an important tradition at Chicago Cubs games. While we respect the rights of individuals to decide for themselves, we encourage every fan to stand, if they are able, and to remove their caps while the anthem is being played,” the statement read. “At the same time, the safety and security of our fans is our top priority.” The Cubs, who won the game 10-1, also said they respected the fan’s wishes to not pursue any further action.
