Caught on Camera Being a Jerk: An On The Marc Media PR Survival Guide for Sports Fans

With the World Series upon us, now seems like a good time for a little advice on fan behavior. Not a lecture, just a quick guide on what to do when you’re caught on camera doing something stupid in the stadium.

Because in 2025, it’s not just the close plays under review — it’s the fans. Every single person has a camera on them, so when your moment of bad judgment is caught in 4K, your employer, your grandma, and everyone on TikTok will see it before you get back to your seat with your $15 beer. 

The “what not to do” file: Enter “Phillies Karen.”
At a Phillies–Marlins game this season, a father caught a home-run ball and handed it to his son — it was the kid’s birthday. Then “Karen” marched up, demanded the ball, and grabbed his arm while insisting it was hers. The clip went viral; the meme was born — and eternal Internet infamy followed.

 Then came worse. A Brewers fan was filmed yelling “Let’s call ICE” at a Latino Dodgers fan — the clip went viral. Her job was gone.

A James Madison football dad shouted “Go back to Haiti, traitor!” at Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears — same story, different seat section.

And now, for the redemption arc: a 9-year-old Phillies fan caught a foul ball and immediately handed it to an 80-year-old woman because, in his words, “She’s probably got fewer games left than I do.” Instant legend.

Two ends of the same coin: one gets canceled, one gets canonized. So if you ever find yourself trending for all the wrong reasons, here’s your On The Marc Media PR playbook for surviving your own fan-fail moment — no publicist required, just a bit of humility and maybe a well-timed apology that doesn’t start with “if anyone was offended.’”

The On The Marc Media PR Playbook for Fan-Fail Recovery

You’ve gone viral — and not in a fun “look who caught a foul ball” way. Don’t panic (yet). There’s a right way and a very wrong way to dig out of a public-shaming pile-on. Here’s your step-by-step survival guide.

Step 1: Stop Explaining — You’re Making It Worse

Once a clip is out, you are not the editor.
Resist the urge to tell your side, clarify the context, or explain that “it looked worse than it was.” It always looks worse than it was — that’s why it went viral.

A defensive Facebook post starting with “Actually…” is not damage control; it’s an accelerant. Every word you say will be turned against you in a Daily Mail headline. Instead, take 24 hours, breathe, and prepare something simple, human, and short.

Step 2: Apologize Like a Human, Not a Brand

People can spot a “crafted statement” from a mile away.
Avoid phrases like “if anyone was offended” or “that’s not who I am.” (You don’t want Internet sleuths digging up old clips proving you actually are that person.)

Try this instead:

“I messed up. It was a bad moment, and it’s mine to own. I’m sorry.”

That’s it. No committees, no crisis-PR jargon. Authentic humility outperforms polished spin every time — especially when your spin was the problem in the first place.

Step 3: Right the Wrong (Preferably on Camera)

If there’s an actual victim — say, a kid whose birthday baseball you snatched — make it right. Return the ball, send another one, or buy the family a ticket to another game. You’re not just repairing a moment; you’re rewriting the ending. This is the “Phillies Kid” principle: small gestures travel fast. Be generous, not performative. 

Pro tip: You might want to alert the local news stations that you’re available, or better yet, promise one an exclusive. Just don’t wing it on camera. Reporters are pros at getting you to screw up (again). Practice your answers beforehand.

Step 4: Log Off Before HR Logs In

Stop scrolling the comments section.
Stop replying to strangers.
And for the love of all things holy, stop posting TikToks defending yourself from inside your car.

The Internet moves on quickly — unless you keep feeding it. Every extra word gives your clip one more day of life. Don’t be the sequel no one asked for. Or as Howard Stern’s father used to lecture him: ‘Don’t be stupid, you moron!’”

Step 5: Learn the Lesson (and Let People See It)

Eventually, someone will ask what you learned. Have an answer that doesn’t sound like a hostage video.

“I realized how fast one bad moment can overshadow a lifetime of good ones.”

Then stop talking and actually be better next time. People are surprisingly forgiving once you quit trying to prove it.

Final Thought

The line between “instant legend” and “instant meme” is thinner than the difference between a ball and a strike. Every fan thinks they’d be the hero on the Jumbotron — until they’re the villain on X.

So when in doubt, keep your hands off other people’s balls (there, I said it) — keep your comments PG and your beer firmly in your own lap. Because if you’re going to go viral at a ballgame, make it for catching the ball — not catching consequences. (Unless you’re Jeffrey Maier, but that’s another story).