Brewers fan fired after 'Call ICE' outburst at NLCS game
When Shannon Kobylarczyk, a senior account manager at Manpower Group shouted "Call ICE" at a fellow fan during the seventh inning of Game 2 of the 2025 National League Championship SeriesAmerican Family Field, the backlash was swift and unforgiving.
Background: A night of baseball and tension
The October 14 matchup pitted the Los Angeles Dodgers against the host Milwaukee Brewers in front of a sold‑out crowd of 43,129. Shohei Ohtani’s RBI single that powered the Dodgers to a 4‑1 lead was the spark for a celebratory chant by a group of Dodgers supporters, including Ricardo Fosado, a 32‑year‑old marketing consultant from Chicago.
Fosado, who was in town for the Advertising Research Foundation conference, was wearing a Dodgers jersey and cheering from Section 208, Row K, Seat 12. Two rows down, Kobylarczyk, a lifelong Brewers fan, reacted by yelling the provocative phrase at 8:25 PM Central Time. The moment was caught on a fan’s phone, posted to X by @BrewCrewFan42, and it exploded to 2.7 million views within a day.
Details of the viral exchange
The video shows Fosado laughing after Hernández’s run, turning to Kobylarczyk and saying, “Nice play, huh?” She replies, “Call ICE,” loud enough for nearby fans to hear. Eyewitness Emily Chen, a 28‑year‑old Milwaukee resident, confirmed the audio on Twitter the following morning.
Within hours, internet sleuths linked the woman in the clip to Manpower Group’s employee directory and her LinkedIn profile. The company confirmed on October 15 that Kobylarczyk was terminated effective immediately. David Arkell, Chief Human Resources Officer at Manpower Group said, “Her comments do not reflect our values or inclusive workplace culture.”
At the same time, Kobylarczyk relinquished her unpaid board seat at Make‑A‑Wish Wisconsin. Executive Director Jennifer Thompson posted a brief statement noting the resignation was effective immediately.
Responses from the Brewers, MLB and the public
Matt Bader, spokesperson for the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club, Inc. issued a non‑attribution comment that the fan was banned from American Family Field for the rest of the 2025 postseason and all of the 2026 regular season. The Brewers have enforced 17 bans since their Fan Code of Conduct launched in 2019.
Major League Baseball announced a league‑wide review of fan conduct policies. Commissioner Rob Manfred is slated to address the issue at the owners’ meeting in New York City on October 28.
Public reaction was a mix of outrage and debate. Some fans argued that the phrase was a personal attack unrelated to the game, while others saw it as a broader reflection of the heated immigration discourse that has dominated national headlines since the Department of Homeland Security reported over 213,000 removals in FY 2024.
Impact on Kobylarczyk and the organizations involved
Financially, Kobylarczyk loses a $87,500 base salary plus performance bonuses. The termination also removes her from a role that connected her to a network of senior financial‑services clients. For Manpower Group, the incident sparked internal reviews of social‑media guidelines and reinforced its public‑relations commitment to diversity.
Make‑A‑Wish Wisconsin lost a board member who had chaired fundraising events since 2022. The organization noted that volunteer turnover is common, but the high‑profile nature of the resignation prompted a brief dip in donor sentiment, which the group is working to restore.
The Brewers face a reputational balancing act. While the ban signals a zero‑tolerance stance on harassment, critics argue that the punishment may appear disproportionate compared with previous infractions involving profanity or physical altercations.
Future implications and what to watch
- MLB’s policy review could lead to standardized penalties across all ballparks, potentially introducing mandatory training for season‑ticket holders.
- Manpower Group may update its employee‑social‑media policy, emphasizing pre‑employment background checks for public‑facing roles.
- Make‑A‑Wish Wisconsin is likely to tighten its board‑member vetting process, especially regarding social‑media footprints.
- Fans and advocacy groups may push for clearer definitions of “hate speech” versus “political expression” in stadiums.
All eyes will be on the NLCS finale on October 18, when the Dodgers and Brewers will duel for a World Series berth. Whether the incident lingers in the stands or fades as the postseason progresses remains to be seen.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the "Call ICE" incident affect Manpower Group employees?
The firm has reinforced its code of conduct, reminding staff that personal remarks made in public can trigger disciplinary action. It’s expected that new training modules on social‑media etiquette will roll out by early 2026.
What precedent does this set for fan behavior at MLB games?
MLB’s upcoming policy review may codify longer bans for political or hate‑related statements, moving beyond the current case‑by‑case approach. The Brewers’ decision to ban the fan for the entire 2026 season hints at a tougher stance.
Why did Make‑A‑Wish Wisconsin accept the resignation?
The organization emphasized its mission to serve children with critical illnesses, stating that any public controversy could distract from fundraising efforts and harm its reputation among donors.
Will the banned fan be allowed to attend future games?
According to the Brewers’ spokesperson, the ban covers all games at American Family Field through the 2026 regular season. After that period, the fan would need to apply for a new ticket and could be subject to additional screening.
What are the broader social implications of the incident?
The episode underscores how heated immigration debates can spill into everyday settings like sports venues. It also highlights the power of viral video to amplify a single moment into a national conversation about free speech, workplace accountability, and fan conduct.
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