The first-place Mets have put a product on the field fans want to see. Now they’re cleaning up in-game entertainment so fans won’t want to leave.
The team is putting an end to a controversial kiss-cam feature, in which a pair of players on the opposing team would be shown on the Jumbotron to suggest they kiss — which often was met by laughs from the crowd, which in turn was met by calls of homophobia.
The maneuver, likely meant in jest, was blasted by many through social media until the team announced Wednesday the kiss-cam was not the hill it wanted to die on. The team said it would continue the lighthearted tradition in each game, but opposing players would no longer be featured.
“We have, on occasion, included players from opposing teams in our popular in-game kiss cam feature,” the organization said in a statement to HuffPost Live. “While intended to be lighthearted, we unintentionally offended some. We apologize for doing so and no longer will include players in the feature. Our organization is wholly supportive of fostering an inclusive and respectful environment at games.”
Social-media backlash intensified throughout the year, spearheaded by Twitter user Etan Bednarsh. The fan chronicled barbs thrown the Mets’ way, asserting the humor of the joke derived from a hetero-normative view of the world — that two men kissing is a joke meant to be laughed at.
Dbacks on the kiss cam #Metspic.twitter.com/v8T0nQkoxV
— Young Simba (@TheGoose98) July 11, 2015
.@Mets why did you put two Rockies players on the Kiss Cam tonight? Pls explain. cc @YouCanPlayTeam@MLB
— Greg Krieg (@GregJKrieg) August 13, 2015
#Mets imbeciles put two Rockies players on the kiss cam, cos, GET IT, they're bros?!? Crowd loved it, of course:
— Greg Krieg (@GregJKrieg) August 13, 2015
Hey @Mets, putting two opposing players on the KissCam for cheap laughs is more homophobic than my team should be. Let's be classy instead!
— David S. (@davidseduski) June 12, 2015
