A joke about potentially getting a man kicked out of the U.S. has ended up getting two fans banned from attending Brewers games in Milwaukee.
The team issued a statement on Thursday after a video taken during Game 2 of the NLCS between the Brewers and L.A. Dodgers showed a woman threatening to “call ICE” on a Latino Dodgers fan.
As a result of their viral interaction, both Shannon Kobylarczyk and Ricardo Fosado have been banned from attending events at American Family Field.
“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,” the team said in a statement issued to multiple outlets.
“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.
“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.
“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 statement did not identify either party by name.
The ballpark ban isn’t the only consequence that Kobylarczyk faced. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, she lost her job with Manpower Group, a Milwaukee-based staffing company.
The outlet also reported that Kobylarczyk left her role on the board of directors at Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, with the organization confirming the news on Wednesday.
During the seventh inning of Tuesday’s game, after Enrique Hernandez hit a home run to extend the Dodgers’ lead, Fosado filmed himself playfully taunting Brewers fans at American Family Field, asking those around, “Why is everybody quiet?”
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“Real men drink beer, p****,” Kobylarczyk yells in response to Fosada, who was holding a can of a non-carbonated mixed drink.
Kobylarczyk then nudges a man a row in front of her and says, “You know what, let’s call ICE,” which is the acronym for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“Call ICE?” Fosada responds, “What are you going to say? I’m a war veteran. War veteran, two wars.
“ICE aren’t going to do anything to me.”
Kobylarczyk then uses her hand to swipe towards the fan and his camera as Fosada reiterates that he served in the U.S. military.
After the incident, Kobylarczyk spoke to stadium security and Fosada was escorted out of the ballpark.
Fosada, who is a Los Angeles native, told the Journal Sentinel that Brewers fans earlier had been giving him grief after Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio homered to take an early lead.
“I was like the only one wearing Dodgers gear, putting it in my face that Milwaukee scored,” he said. “But as the game progressed, the atmosphere changed, it was a little more quiet.”
He also described the banter between himself and the local fans as a “back and forth” and that “it wasn’t disrespectful.”
Fosada added that he believes Kobylarczyk “made a mistake” and didn’t deserve to lose her job.