Shannon Kobylarczyk, the Milwaukee Brewers fan who threatened to call U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Ricardo Fosado, a Latino Los Angeles Dodgers fan, earlier this week, has been banned from the stadium where the incident occurred. She has also lost both of her jobs.
The Milwaukee Brewers told Yahoo in a statement on Thursday: “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.”
“In this instance, the Milwaukee Police Department dealt with the individual who was ejected for actions apart from the events depicted in this video, including disorderly conduct and public intoxication,” the team said, referring to Fosado. “Separately, video shows that the other individual involved in the argument became physical in the course of her interactions with the person who was ejected.”
Kobylarczyk and Fosado have both been banned from American Family Field in Milwaukee.
“For these reasons and in accordance with our Guest Code of Conduct specific to ejections and physical confrontations, both fans are being notified that they are not allowed to return to the ballpark for future events,” the team concluded.
Both of Kobylarczyk’s former employers also confirmed to Yahoo on Thursday that she has been terminated following the incident, which was recorded and then widely circulated on social media.
Kobylarczyk worked as a lawyer at ManpowerGroup, a recruiting agency based in Milwaukee.
“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,” a ManpowerGroup representative told Yahoo.
She was also a member of the board of directors for the Milwaukee division of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
“Shannon Kobylarczyk resigned from the Make-A-Wish Wisconsin Board of Directors on Wednesday, October 15, effective immediately. Make-A-Wish Wisconsin does not condone nor agree with Kobylarczyk’s words and actions,” a representative for the nonprofit told Yahoo.
The Dodgers and Brewers face off in Milwaukee. (Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The woman has been dubbed “Brewers Karen” online. The incident comes a month after a woman, referred to as “Phillies Karen,” berated a father into giving her a home run ball that he had caught for his son at a Philadelphia Phillies-Miami Marlins game.
The event in question occurred during a playoff game between the Dodgers and Brewers at American Family Field on Tuesday night. Both Kobylarczyk and Fosado, a U.S. Navy veteran, were in attendance. Footage recorded by Fosado showed a group of Brewers fans who had suddenly gone quiet after their team lost the lead and the Dodgers went ahead in the game.
In the viral video, Fosado, as he pans over Brewers fans in his section, can be heard saying, “Why is everybody quiet?”
Kobylarczyk looks directly at Fosado and yells, “Real men drink beer, p***y!” She’s then seen tapping a man in front of her, before suggesting, “You know what, let’s call ICE.”
Fosado challenges Kobylarczyk, telling her, “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.”
Kobylarczyk reported Fosado to the stadium’s security team, and Fosado and a friend he attended the game with, were escorted out of the building as a result. Fosado told Fox 11 Los Angeles that the only reason security gave for ejecting them from the game was that they’re Dodgers fans.
Fosado, according to his LinkedIn profile, is a small business owner and the chief executive officer at Foxtrot Construction in Chino Hills, Calif. His video of the interaction has gone viral on social media. Although his personal accounts have since been made private, the footage has been screen-recorded and continues to circulate online.
Yahoo reached out to Fosado for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Since learning that Kobylarczyk has been let go from both of her jobs as a result of the viral incident, Fosado feels empathetic toward her. Fosado told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Kobylarczyk’s behavior, which he believes was fueled by alcohol, shouldn’t have necessarily cost her her jobs.
“I don’t think it was like horrible or something that should get her fired. I feel bad for her,” he said. “We cannot be judged on one mistake, and a lot of emotions were involved. It was just hurt feelings, nobody physically hurt anybody.”
The interaction between Kobylarczyk and Fosado comes amid mounting tensions in the United States because of ongoing immigration enforcement operations conducted by the Trump administration.
Source link
