Social media users initially Karen from the Phillies, who demanded a home run ball from a young fan, as Cheryl Richardson-Wagner – but they were wrong and now the search moves on to a new Cheryl Wagner.
The viral incident at Friday’s Philadelphia Phillies vs. Miami Marlins game on September 5 spread across the internet like wildfire when a woman took Harrison Bader‘s solo homerun shot away from a young boy.
The moment went viral and fans quickly set about trying to discover the culprit and thought they had identified the woman, however, Richardson-Wagner publicly denied involvement, clarifying that she is a Red Sox fan and bears no resemblance to the viral footage.
“Ok everyone… I’m NOT the crazy Philly Mom (but I sure would love to be as thin as she is and move as fast)… and I’m a Red Sox fan,” Richardson-Wagner wrote on Facebook, distancing herself from controversy.
Her statement has forced internet sleuths to reconsider earlier assumptions, redirecting their search toward another individual named Cheryl Wagner, now considered the prime suspect in the case.
While this second Cheryl Wagner has yet to be definitively confirmed as the woman captured on video, she has become the focus of ongoing identification efforts as the public fascination with the so-called “Phillies Karen” rages on.
Karen from the Phillies: What happened in Marlins clash?
The incident that sparked widespread outrage occurred in the fourth inning when the Phillies outfielder hit a home run into the left-field stands at LoanDepot Park as a man in Phillies attire retrieved the ball and handed it to his young son, Lincoln, as a birthday gift.
But moments later, a woman, also wearing Phillies gear, confronted the father, insisting the ball had been “in her hands first” after he had rushed over to her and her group of friends to beat them to the punch.
Video footage shows the woman aggressively arguing with the man, grabbing his arm, and demanding he hand over the ball and the father eventually relinquished it, taking the ball from his son and giving it to the woman.
During the confrontation, a nearby fan heckled her, prompting the woman to flip off the section, further intensifying the viral outrage, as the father likely surrendered Bader’s ball to not spoil his son’s birthday.
And it turns out stadium staff quickly intervened to remedy the situation as Marlins employees approached Lincoln, offering him a ballpark goodie bag, and later facilitated a meet-and-greet with Harrison.
The Phillies also shared social media posts showing Bader signing a bat and posing for photos with the boy, captioning one image: “Going home with a signed bat from Bader.”
The misidentification of Cheryl Richardson-Wagner has highlighted the challenges of online sleuthing and public shaming, as social media users attempt to hold someone accountable without definitive proof.
But fortunately, the focus remains on ensuring that the child fan’s experience is preserved and all of the Marlins, Phillies and Bader should be commended for going the extra mile to look out for Lincoln.
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