Chicago Cubs fan slaps young supporter for sitting during the Star-Spangled Banner, ‘Stand up or get smacked’

Controversy is brewing over a viral video of an older Chicago Cubs fan violently reprimanding a younger fan who refused to stand for the national anthem.

The video was taken before Sunday’s Cubs vs Minnesota Twins game at Wrigley Field, and shows a man leaning in toward a younger fan before slapping him on the back of the head, with the video captioned “Stand up or get smacked!”. After the slap occurs, the younger man stands up, and the older man moves away.

Standing during the national anthem is customary at public events, but federal law underlines that it’s “recommended” rather than compulsory. The official U.S. Code guidance is that during the anthem, those present “should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart”.

“That grandpa is an old wannabe bully”

Neither of the two men has been publicly identified, and neither has commented on the interaction. Plenty of people online have given their take on whether the older man was right to intervene or not. Many view the older man as a bully, with user pragmagus saying:

“I would give that old guy 1 punch a syllable for the rest of the anthem and make HIM sit forever, I love the country but that grandpa is an old wannabe bully with no right to hit other people.”

Others say that forcing him to stand is un-American: “Not cool that he put his hands on him! That song represents our Freedom and it is also our freedom to sit if we choose!”, that “i think it sucks not to stand but we have personal freedoms”, and “Im patriotic, but you touch me youre going to jail, after the hospital. Welcome to America old man”.

But just as many side with the older man and say that sitting is disrespectful. One such supporter said:

“Respect our traditions many have died so you can make choices at least stand under our flag and anthem if it bothers u that much you should move to Europe they would love to have you”

Many also think that this is proof that young people are disrespectful: “This is a classic example of the entitlement in our generation”, that “grandpa slapped him to be respectful and patriotic!” and that “Anyone and I mean anyone who doesn’t want to stand for their own country’s anthem is a disgrace.”

One-time Trump cheerleader turned enemy Marjorie Taylor Greene is in this group, telling people to “always stand proudly for the national anthem”.