Richardson-Wagner clarified in a public statement that she was not the person in the viral clip. (Picture credit: X)
A video from a baseball game in the United States had gone viral, showing a woman shouting at a man and his young son over a home run ball. Soon after the video surfaced, social media users went on a hunt to identify ‘Phillies Karen’. Some users speculated that the woman in the video was Cheryl Richardson-Wagner.
Following this, her Facebook page was flooded with messages. However, Richardson-Wagner clarified in a public statement that she was not the person in the viral clip.
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She wrote on her social media page, “I’m NOT the crazy Philly Mom (but I sure would love to be as thin as she is and move as fast)… and I’m a Red Sox fan.” She also said that she was not even near Florida at the time of the game.
To make her stance clearer, she updated her Facebook cover photo to the Boston Red Sox crest. In another post, she said that she was now trending on X and wondered if she would receive apologies once the real woman was identified.
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What Happened During Game
The incident occurred during a Major League Baseball (MLB) game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Miami Marlins on Friday at LoanDepot Park in Miami. Phillies player Harrison Bader hit a solo home run, and the ball landed in the stands.
A man ran to collect the ball and handed it to his son, Lincoln, who was celebrating his birthday. Moments later, a woman confronted the father, grabbing his shoulders and demanding the ball, claiming it had been closer to her seat. She shouted, “That was mine. You took it from me. It was in my hands.”
Although it is unclear whether the ball was ever actually in her hands, the father eventually gave it to her. Many online viewers criticized the woman’s behavior as unfair, especially towards the child.
Team Steps In to Support Boy
A representative from the Miami Marlins later visited Lincoln and his family in the stands. The staff member apologized for the incident and gave the boy a goodie bag filled with gifts. The representative told him, “That was not OK. So we brought you a cool little goodie bag. I’m so sorry.”
To make the day more special, Lincoln also got to meet Harrison Bader after the game. The player gave him a signed bat as a birthday gift, ensuring he still had a memorable experience despite the earlier confrontation.