{"id":51995,"date":"2026-07-24T09:09:04","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T13:09:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=51995"},"modified":"2026-07-24T09:09:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T13:09:04","slug":"cubs-fan-slaps-spectator-for-sitting-during-national-anthem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2026\/07\/cubs-fan-slaps-spectator-for-sitting-during-national-anthem.html","title":{"rendered":"Cubs Fan Slaps Spectator For Sitting During National Anthem"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The internet is abuzz with reactions after a Cubs fan slapped a younger fan who was sitting down during the National Anthem. The moment occurred just before the Chicago Cubs were set to face off against the Minnesota Twins at Wrigley Park in Chicago. As fans rose to their feet for \u201cThe Star Spangled Banner,\u201d a now-viral video<\/a> shows an older man in the stands leaning over a younger man who remained seated during the anthem. The older fan can be heard telling the younger man to \u201cstand up.\u201d There is an inaudible exchange between the two and when the younger man does not stand, the older man smacks him in the back of the head. The smack does the job and the younger fan then stands for the remainder of the anthem, to which the older fan responds, \u201cThank you,\u201d after the song concludes.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t long before the video made its rounds on social media, being described as \u201cthe smack heard \u2018round the world.\u201d The older man in the video has since been identified as Robert \u201cBob\u201d Chavez. Speaking to TMZ<\/a>, Chavez said he lost his temper about the younger man not standing because he is a Vietnam veteran who lost many friends during the war. He said that after informing the younger fan of his veteran status, he still remained seated, thus earning the slap. He said he and the young man later made amends, with the younger man even buying Chavez a beer and turning security away when they came to escort Chavez from the game.<\/p>\n

In a statement to TMZ, the Chicago Cubs asserted its encouragement that every fan stand up during the National Anthem and confirmed that Chavez was not removed after insistence from the younger fan. \u201cAt 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.\u201d The Chicago Police Department also informed TMZ that while they are aware of the slapping incident, no police report has been filed at this time.<\/p>\n

Responses to the slap were mostly in favor of Chavez on social media. \u201cYoung guy refuses to stand up during the national anthem at a Chicago Cubs game. Older gentleman smacks him upside the head telling him to stand up. When this older generation dies off, we are going to be all out of legends,\u201d wrote one user on X<\/a>. Others disagreed. \u201cI\u2019ll sit down at the National Anthem if I feel like it!\u201d wrote another<\/a>. \u201cPeople acting like it\u2019s a d–n law to stand for it\u2026.the way this country is being led right now\u2026..I totally understand that dude. That old man slapping him was the only disrespectful a—-le in that video!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The internet is abuzz with reactions after a Cubs fan slapped a younger fan who was sitting down during the National Anthem. The moment occurred just before the Chicago Cubs were set to face off against the Minnesota Twins at Wrigley Park in Chicago. As fans rose to their feet for \u201cThe Star Spangled Banner,\u201d…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":516,"featured_media":51998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51995","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-television"],"yoast_head":"\nCubs Fan Slaps Spectator For Sitting During National Anthem<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A viral video shows a Cubs fan slapping a younger spectator who remained seated during the National Anthem at Chicago\u2019s Wrigley Field.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2026\/07\/cubs-fan-slaps-spectator-for-sitting-during-national-anthem.html\" \/>\n<meta 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