Chicago police are aware of a viral video showing an older Chicago Cubs fan striking another spectator who remained seated during the national anthem at Wrigley Field.
The confrontation occurred before the Cubs’ Sunday, July 19, game against the Minnesota Twins.
The footage shows the older man repeatedly ordering the seated spectator to stand before reaching forward and hitting him on the back of the head.
The Chicago Police Department told TMZ that it had seen the circulating video. No police report had been filed when the outlet published its update on July 20.
The Older Fan Repeatedly Told the Spectator to Stand
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The video shows the older man standing behind the spectator while wearing Cubs clothing as “The Star-Spangled Banner” plays inside the stadium.
“Get up,” he says repeatedly while the other man remains in his seat and looks back at him. The older fan then leans forward and appears to speak close to the spectator’s ear.
Moments later, he reaches toward the seated man and strikes the back of his head. Several nearby spectators turn toward the disturbance, and at least one person appears to object to the contact.
The Spectator Stood After Being Hit
The spectator rises after being struck and remains standing during the rest of the portion of the anthem captured on video. “Thank you,” the older man says. He then adds, “Thank you so much, young man,” as people in the surrounding rows continue watching the interaction.
The team had not issued a detailed public statement addressing the incident or saying whether stadium personnel were conducting a separate review. Chicago police told TMZ they were aware of the video but had not received a formal report connected to the incident.
The Clip Sparked an Argument About Patriotism and Personal Freedom
The video received millions of views after spreading across social media. The New York Post documented the divided reaction, including comments emphasizing that remaining seated is a personal choice even when other spectators consider it disrespectful.
The incident occurred before Chicago defeated Minnesota 10-1, with Shota Imanaga pitching seven scoreless innings and Nico Hoerner driving in four runs.