Sport is not only on the field: scandals with fans in 2025
7 september 2025 в 23:13
Sport is not just about actions on the field — sometimes the drama in the stands steals the spotlight. In 2025, several viral incidents with fans sparked heated debates about etiquette, privileges, and sportsmanship. From the so-called «Phyllis Karen», - who pressured a father to give up a ball intended for his son, to the Polish general manager who caught a player’s hat at the US Open, these moments made fans talk as much as the games themselves.
Check out the most memorable «Karen» scandals at sporting events this year below.
On September 5th at the Phillies-Marlins game, chaos erupted in the stands when a ball after a home run ended up in the hands of young fan Lincoln Feltwell, who was celebrating his birthday. His father, Drew Feltwell, caught the ball and gave it to him, but the moment was interrupted when a woman, now dubbed «Phyllis Karen», - demanded a souvenir. In front of cameras and the gaze of fans, Drew eventually handed her the ball to avoid further conflict.
The incident caused a stir online, sparking debates about fan etiquette, fairness, and what parents should do in such situations. While the woman’s identity remains unknown, MLB and player Harrison Bader later intervened, gifting Lincoln a signed bat and memorabilia to replace the lost ball.
Another viral «Karen» moment occurred far from the baseball diamond — at the 2025 US Open. Polish general manager Piotr Szczerk was caught on video reaching out to grab a tennis player’s hat, which seemed to be intended for a boy in the stands. The shocking clip quickly spread, and many called it poor sportsmanship and a shameful act for someone in his position.
Facing widespread condemnation, Szczerk later apologized on Facebook, admitting that he should have given the child a souvenir. In his post, he wrote: «I take full responsibility for my extremely poor judgment and offensive actions. My intention was never to steal a valuable souvenir from a young fan. I got caught up in the moment and the joy of victory, and I believed that Mayzhak was handing me the hat to give to my sons, who had previously asked for autographs. Regardless of what I believed was happening, the actions I took caused pain to the boy and disappointed the fans».
The New York Mets also faced fan drama in 2025 when a ball was ripped from the hands of an elderly man in the crowd. Witnesses described the shocking moment as unnecessary and cruel, especially considering the man’s delight at receiving the souvenir
Check out the most memorable «Karen» scandals at sporting events this year below.
On September 5th at the Phillies-Marlins game, chaos erupted in the stands when a ball after a home run ended up in the hands of young fan Lincoln Feltwell, who was celebrating his birthday. His father, Drew Feltwell, caught the ball and gave it to him, but the moment was interrupted when a woman, now dubbed «Phyllis Karen», - demanded a souvenir. In front of cameras and the gaze of fans, Drew eventually handed her the ball to avoid further conflict.
The incident caused a stir online, sparking debates about fan etiquette, fairness, and what parents should do in such situations. While the woman’s identity remains unknown, MLB and player Harrison Bader later intervened, gifting Lincoln a signed bat and memorabilia to replace the lost ball.
Another viral «Karen» moment occurred far from the baseball diamond — at the 2025 US Open. Polish general manager Piotr Szczerk was caught on video reaching out to grab a tennis player’s hat, which seemed to be intended for a boy in the stands. The shocking clip quickly spread, and many called it poor sportsmanship and a shameful act for someone in his position.
Facing widespread condemnation, Szczerk later apologized on Facebook, admitting that he should have given the child a souvenir. In his post, he wrote: «I take full responsibility for my extremely poor judgment and offensive actions. My intention was never to steal a valuable souvenir from a young fan. I got caught up in the moment and the joy of victory, and I believed that Mayzhak was handing me the hat to give to my sons, who had previously asked for autographs. Regardless of what I believed was happening, the actions I took caused pain to the boy and disappointed the fans».
The New York Mets also faced fan drama in 2025 when a ball was ripped from the hands of an elderly man in the crowd. Witnesses described the shocking moment as unnecessary and cruel, especially considering the man’s delight at receiving the souvenir
© Puhova Marina
