Wimbledon's interim chief executive, Richard Atkinson, has warned that influencers attempting to disrupt matches at the All England Club would face military-trained security personnel, who he said "would love nothing more than to sort out some influencers". His comments follow a series of incidents involving influencers at the 2026 US Open.
Security at SW19
Speaking at the Leaders Week conference at Stamford Bridge, Atkinson contrasted the atmosphere at the two Grand Slams. "If you've ever been to the US Open, it's very New York City, right? It is mad, it is noisy, there's all sorts of stuff going on," he said.
He added: "It's dead easy for someone who just bought a ticket to show up there with the ring lights and start broadcasting literally in the middle of the match. If you try to do that at Wimbledon, I think you'd probably have some Royal Marines Commando [stopping you]. We do have military there and they would like nothing more, I suspect, than to sort out some influencers."
US Open incidents
The 2026 US Open faced backlash over the behaviour of some of the 100 influencers accredited at Flushing Meadows. One flashpoint involved a group of influencers using a bright ring light in a hospitality suite at Arthur Ashe Stadium while filming a TikTok video.
Naomi Osaka, a two-time US Open champion, raised concerns after her first-round win, suggesting it should be "common courtesy to read up on the sport, especially the etiquette" for first-time attendees. BBC pundit and multiple Grand Slam winner John McEnroe said: "If it helps the sport and brings more interest to it, maybe it could work. But I know that if I was playing, I'd be screaming to 'get these people out of here!'"
Influencer policy
Wimbledon does not offer direct accreditation to influencers, though partner brands have used them independently. Atkinson acknowledged the balance tournaments must strike: "Clearly influencers are a crucial part of building a brand around the world in the third decade of the 21st century. What you have to do is keep them under control. Our partners Polo Ralph Lauren will have influencers tightly chaperoned."
