A baseball fan who was caught on camera slapping a spectator who didn't stand up for the US national anthem has spoken out about the incident, admitting he 'could have handled it better'.
What happened at Wrigley Field
Robert 'Bob' Chavez was spotted shouting at an unidentified younger man at the Chicago Cubs-Minnesota Twins clash at Wrigley Field last weekend, berating him for staying in his seat during The Star-Spangled Banner. He then hit him on the head after he refused to comply, leaving onlookers stunned. Others quickly came to the younger man's defence as he eventually got to his feet.
A video of the incident went viral, dividing social media. One person on X called Chavez an 'absolute patriot', while another commented: 'As much as I agree with the older gentleman…we don't hit other people.' On Instagram, one user said: 'That's why this younger generation needs to learn…Respect', but another added: 'I love this country and I would stand, as I always do, but you don't put your hands on other people.'
Chavez explains his actions
Speaking to Inside Edition, Chavez explained his past as a Vietnam veteran led to him confronting the stranger. 'I was telling him, "Please stand up", you know, "have some respect",' he said. Chavez said he would 'take back' the slap if he could, adding: 'Because, you know, even though I fought in Vietnam and I had buddies killed, you know, I mean, we fight for the rights of the people, and that's one of his rights.'
Chavez stressed that he and the other man settled their differences later, a moment not captured on film. 'Later on, during the game, next thing you know, he's buying me a beer,' Chavez said. 'We talked, we shook hands…I overreacted. I could have handled it better, I wish I would have. But my feelings are the same, people should stand.'
Security and team response
TMZ reported that despite security getting involved, the other man told them not to eject Chavez from the ground. In a statement, the Cubs said: '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. At the same time, the safety and security of our fans is our top priority. Our security team spoke with the fan who had been struck. He indicated that the matter had been resolved, he did not want to have anyone ejected from the ballpark or any further action taken, and we respected his wishes.'
