A Milwaukee Brewers fan has been fired from her job and banned from the team’s stadium after going viral for threatening to call ICE on a Dodgers fan during a playoff game.
Why It Matters
The altercation, which was captured on video and quickly went viral, highlights how references to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have entered public discourse even in recreational settings. The incident comes amid increased attention to immigration enforcement in the U.S., as ICE raids under the Trump administration have sparked national debate.
What To Know
The incident occurred when Shannon Kobylarczyk, who can be seen wearing Brewers gear in the footage, confronted Dodgers fan Ricardo Fosado during a game at American Family Field on October 14.
Fosado, a U.S. citizen of Mexican heritage, served in the U.S. Navy from 2001 to 2005, he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He joined the military following the September 11 attacks and was deployed to both Afghanistan and Iraq, according to the outlet.
“Why is everybody quiet?” Fosado asked mockingly in the video, gesturing toward a crowd of silent Brewers fans. He told Fox6 that the group had been cheering earlier when the Brewers were leading, but grew quiet as the Dodgers began to take the lead.
Footage shows Kobylarczyk reacting by shouting at Fosado: “Real men drink beer, p***y.”
In the video, Kobylarczyk can also be heard telling Fosado she will “call ICE.” She then tapped the man in front of her and suggested calling the nation’s top immigration enforcement agency.
Fosado responded by asserting his citizenship status and military service.
“Call ICE. Call ICE. I’m a U.S. citizen, war veteran, baby girl. War veteran, two wars. ICE is not gonna do nothing to me. Good luck,” he said.
He told the Journal Sentinel that after the incident Kobylarczyk reported him to stadium security and he was escorted out of the stadium. He was subsequently banned from attending future games at American Family Field for “public intoxication.”
Fosado, a Los Angeles resident, said he was visiting Milwaukee after traveling from Chicago on a business trip to watch the Dodgers play.
Loading twitter content…
Following the release of the video, Kobylarczyk was terminated from her position at ManpowerGroup, a Milwaukee-based staffing company, and resigned from her role on the board of directors at Make-A-Wish Wisconsin. Both organizations condemned her actions, emphasizing their commitment to respect and integrity.
Fosado said that he does not believe Kobylarczyk should have lost her job.
“I don’t think she should have got fired. It’s my opinion,” Fosado told WDJT-TV in Milwaukee. “I think everybody deserves second chances. I think everybody makes mistakes. Nobody got hurt besides the feelings and egos. I mean, we all live another day.”
What People Are Saying
Fosado told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “This is my first time at a Brewers game and I got kicked out, but you know what? I had a great experience and everybody was really friendly and welcoming. So I don’t take that one incident and label the whole entire day bad.”
The ManpowerGroup said in a statement: “As soon as we became aware of this video the individual was placed on immediate leave and we began an investigation.As a result of this process, the employee is no longer with the organization. We remain committed to maintaining a culture grounded in respect, integrity, and accountability.”
The Milwaukee Brewers said in a statement: “The Brewers expect all persons attending games to be respectful of each other, and we do not condone in any way offensive statements fans make to each other about race, gender, or national origin. Our priority is to ensure that all in attendance have a safe and enjoyable experience at the ballpark.”
What Happens Next
Both Kobylarczyk and Fosado have been banned from from attending games at American Family Field.