A baseball fan who was caught on camera slapping a spectator who didn’t stand up for US national anthem has spoken out about the incident — admitting he ‘could have handled it better’.
Robert ‘Bob’ Chavez was spotted shouting at the 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 was then seen hitting him on the head after he refused to comply with his request, leaving onlookers stunned, and quickly coming to the younger man’s defense as he gave in and got to his feet.
A video of the incident, which has since gone viral, left social media sharply divided, with one person on X calling Chavez an ‘absolute patriot’.
However, another commented: ‘As much as I agree with the older gentleman…we don’t hit other people.’
Over on Instagram, one user said: ‘That’s why this younger generation needs to learn…Respect’. However another added: ‘I love this country and I would stand, as I always do, but you don’t put your hands on other people.’
However, speaking to Inside Edition, Chavez explained why he acted the way he did, saying 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 would ‘take back’ the slap if he could, adding: ‘Because even though I fought in Vietnam and I had buddies killed, we fight for the rights of the people, and that’s one of his rights.’
Chavez was also quick to stress that he and the other man did in fact settle their differences — a moment that wasn’t 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.’
TMZ, who previously shared the video after it landed on Instagram, reported that despite security getting involved the other man told them not to eject Chavez from the ground.
In a statement the Cubs told the website: ‘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.’
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