Posted on 07/22/2026 7:31:50 PM PDT by Morgana
A Chicago Cubs fan who smacked another spectator who did not stand for The Star-Spangled Banner is speaking out after a video of the incident went viral.
The video drew strong and divided reactions on social media, with public opinion split on the older man's actions.
Now, he has spoken out on the incident, which happened during the 10-1 win against the Minnesota Twins at Wrigley Field on Sunday, in various interviews.
Robert Chavez claimed that an important element of the story is missing.
In the video, he is seen yelling at the younger man - who was not identified - for his refusal to rise out of his seat.
'I was telling him, "Please stand up", you know, "have some respect",' Chavez told Inside Edition.
After the younger man didn't comply with Chavez's demands, he was hit in the head by the senior.
He continued to bark at the younger man - as well as others who were stunned by his actions and looked to defend the recipient of the smack.
Chavez told TMZ that he informed the young man of his status as a veteran of the Vietnam War and even rattled him with some stories from the conflict - all to no avail.
But looking back on the incident, Chavez admitted that he shouldn't have resorted to physical violence.
'Oh yes, definitely. I wish I could,' he told Inside Edition when asked if he wanted to take back the slap.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.com ...
Thank God the kid was White
I was very inattentive to cultural trends when I was in my teens (the 60s) but, did the antiwar stoner scum stand for the National Anthem? This may not be such a new phenomenon.
How about keeping your hands to yourself and not trying to impose your will on someone else? Are you going to smack someone because they wore a different jersey too? Quit being a bully and start defending freedom.
“What if you got smacked because you didn’t stand for the so called black national anthem, or because you didn’t vocally support abortion?”
While you make some valid points, the above statement weakens your argument. Equating those actions with standing for the national anthem is ridiculous in my opinion,
You make a false statement.
The younger man was sitting there doing nothing. The young man did not shoot or hammer the veteran. It does not just justify being hit by Robert Chavez, the veteran.
No.
The workers should have been fired.
I lived on RAF Lakenheath, in England, when I was in junior high school. When Retreat was played over the loud speakers, all cars stopped, military personnel got out of their cars and held a salute until retreat finished playing. Kids on bikes stopped riding, got off their bikes and put their hands over their hearts.
I’d be interested in knowing what this kid’s mom and dad had to say about their son’s disrespectful behavior.
The point is exactly the same regardless of the unpopular expression. Just because something means something to many people doesn’t mean everyone has to agree with it. It certainly is not a cause for violence.
Dead commies, though, that is good.
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