SerpApi.Org
An anthem lasted less than two minutes in an MLB game. The fallout from it hasn’t stopped since.
A Chicago Cubs game turned into something much bigger than baseball on Sunday. Before the Cubs and Minnesota Twins even threw a first pitch at Wrigley Field, two fans in the stands became the story everyone was talking about.
Video now circulating online shows an older supporter slapping a younger fan on the back of the head. His crime, according to the older man, was staying seated during the national anthem.
The footage shows the older MLB fan leaning toward the younger supporter, who was seated a row ahead of him. He can be heard repeatedly telling him to “get up” while “The Star-Spangled Banner” played.
Words were exchanged. Then things got physical.
The older man closed the distance and struck the younger fan on the back of the head. That was enough. The younger supporter stood up almost instantly.
Nearby fans watched the whole thing unfold. A few looked uncomfortable. Nobody stepped in.
Here’s the twist, though. The older man didn’t stop once the anthem ended. He kept shouting at the younger fan and at people around him, while the song was still playing. Some viewers online pointed out the irony there. Yelling through the anthem isn’t exactly respectful either.
Chicago Police have seen the video. That much is confirmed.
The department told TMZ they reviewed the footage, but as of now, no official police report has been filed. No arrests. No charges. Just a viral clip and a lot of opinions.
MLB Fans Split Down The Middle Over Anthem Slap Video
Two million views on Instagram will do that. The comment section turned into a full-blown debate, and predictably, nobody agreed on anything.
Some MLB fans had zero sympathy for the guy who got hit.
“You should be standing for any anthem of any country out of respect, the old man taught him some manners with the slap,” one commenter wrote.
Another called it a “love tap”, framing it as a reminder rather than an assault.
Not everyone bought that framing. Plenty of fans pushed back hard, arguing that sitting during the anthem is exactly the kind of personal choice the anthem is supposed to represent.
One user summed it up bluntly: “Sitting down during the national anthem is very distasteful but he has every right to do so.”
Another didn’t care about the politics of it at all. Their issue was simpler.
“To slap him is not okay,” they wrote, adding they couldn’t believe no other fan stepped in.
Funny enough, the actual baseball wasn’t close. The Cubs steamrolled the Twins 10-1, and it wasn’t just one guy carrying the load.
Shota Imanaga was dealing. Seven shutout innings, one walk allowed, and a season-high effort on the mound. Nico Hoerner did his damage with the bat, driving in four runs including a bases-loaded triple that basically ended any suspense early.
Alex Bregman chipped in a two-run homer of his own. Seiya Suzuki added a double that kept the line moving. Craig Counsell’s group made it look easy.
The win keeps the Cubs seven games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. Not ideal, but here’s the good news. They’re sitting on a 4.5-game cushion in the NL Wild Card race, where three spots are still up for grabs.
As for the anthem incident, the ball’s in Chicago Police’s court now. Whether this turns into something more than a viral clip remains to be seen.
