Credit: Michael Hirschuber/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Pete Crow-Armstrong apologized for using vulgar language toward a fan in the outfield
- The center fielder got into a heated exchange with a woman in the fifth inning of the Cubs’ 9-8 loss against the White Sox
- Crow-Armstrong expressed regret over his word choice, saying, “I don’t think that any of the women in my life would ever think that I would use those kind of words regularly, especially referring to them”
Chicago Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong is apologizing after a heated exchange with a fan during Sunday’s Crosstown Classic went viral, saying he regrets his “choice of words.”
On Sunday, May 17, the 24-year-old got into an expletive-filled argument with a woman during the fifth inning of the Cubs’ 9-8 loss against the Chicago White Sox.
Crow-Armstrong was heckled by the woman, who sat just behind the fencing, and in return threw a vulgar and explicit phrase her way, as seen in a video circulating on social media. (Warning: the video contains NSFW language.)
A day later, Crow-Armstrong apologized while talking to media.
“I think I just regret my choice of words the most and who that affects in my life, directly and indirectly,” the center fielder said, according to the Associated Press. “I don’t think that any of the women in my life would ever think that I would use those kind of words regularly, especially referring to them.”
“So I’m just bummed out about the word choice, and that a bunch of little kids go and probably find their way to social media and see that as well,” he continued.
After the exchange went viral on social media, Crow-Armstrong said he’s learned his lesson.
“That’s something I should be aware of at all times, that there will be cameras and such on me,” the Los Angeles-born player said. “I’m not always going to let stuff like that fly either. It’s just about being a little more respectful and maybe killing somebody with kindness instead of matching their level of intent.”
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Cubs manager Craig Counsell also chimed in, telling reporters he had a conversation with Crow-Armstrong following the kerfuffle.
“He made a mistake, and we’ve got to move on from it,” Counsell said, according to the AP. “It’s a reality of this job. It happens. Fan interactions happen. You want to try to keep them positive, even when they’re not. Sometimes when it’s a really emotional situation, it’s difficult, but it’s still a requirement of the job.”
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