New York Mets Get Sued For $2 Million Over MAGA Hat Meltdown [WATCH]

A New York woman is suing the New York Mets for $2 million, claiming she was barred from entering Citi Field last month because she was wearing a “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) hat, a symbol of former President Donald Trump’s campaign.

A black woman was banned from entering Citi Field to watch the Mets play unless she took off her MAGA hat.

She’s now suing the Mets for $2 million.

Good. pic.twitter.com/3qVRHEdlQn

— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) September 21, 2024

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The lawsuit, filed in Brooklyn Federal Court on September 6, accuses the team of racial discrimination, political retaliation, and causing emotional distress.

Aura Moody, a 64-year-old social worker from Saint Albans, Queens, stated that she was attending the August 14 Mets game against the Oakland Athletics with members of the Queens Village Republican Club.

Trump supporter is suing the Mets for $2 million – they made her REMOVE her MAGA hat before she could enter the stadium. pic.twitter.com/z7dtCbXxod

— Publius (@OcrazioCornPop) September 21, 2024

According to Moody, she and a friend, both wearing MAGA hats, were stopped by a Citi Field staffer after clearing security and were told that the hats were “too political” to be worn inside the stadium.

Despite multiple attempts to invoke her First Amendment rights, Moody said she was forced to remove her hat. “This country is supposed to be the beacon of freedom for all,” Moody told the New York Post.

She further explained that the staffer insisted she take the hat outside of the stadium, not just hide it in her bag, and added that they were concerned about causing delays for the rest of their group, already seated inside.

In court documents, Moody alleges that she asked to speak to a supervisor after feeling racially targeted as a Black woman wearing a MAGA hat.

The security supervisor reportedly reiterated that removing the hat was stadium policy, forcing Moody and her friend to return the hats to a car they had carpooled in.

Moody claimed that when she finally reached her seat, she observed other White members of her group wearing MAGA attire without issue, further fueling her allegations of racial discrimination.

“It was embarrassing. It was heartbreaking. It was shocking. It was humiliating. So how can I go back? It may take some time,” she told the Post.

The Mets initially responded by admitting that an employee had made a mistake regarding the team’s attire policy. “We are reaching out to Aura Moody to apologize and invite her back to the ballpark,” a team spokesperson said.

In fact, the lawsuit notes that a Mets representative did call Moody on August 17 to apologize and inform her that there was no policy against wearing a MAGA hat and that staff had since been retrained.

However, Moody has not returned to Citi Field since the incident.

Moody’s legal action is not the first of its kind involving MAGA apparel at sporting events.

Earlier this month, a similar incident occurred at State Farm Stadium in Arizona.

A woman was asked to remove her MAGA hat before entering the venue for an NFL game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams.

In that case, the Arizona Cardinals later issued a statement apologizing for the misunderstanding, clarifying that the policy prohibiting political signage did not apply to the situation. “We have also reached out to the individual involved to communicate that their experience was not consistent with our policies and practices and to apologize for that,” the Cardinals said in a statement.

EVERY @AZCardinals fan who loves America should wear their MAGA hat to EVERY AZ Cardinals game this season. And fans should call @12News at tell them we demand honest reporting going forward and to sideline liberal Mark Lewis until after the election. We demand the truth!… https://t.co/bcw7vsmute

— Kari Lake (@KariLake) September 18, 2024

As the lawsuit against the Mets progresses, it brings attention to the ongoing debate over the place of political expression in public spaces, particularly at major sporting events.

Moody’s case could set a legal precedent regarding how organizations balance political neutrality with individuals’ free speech rights, especially as tensions surrounding political symbols like the MAGA hat remain high.

Moody continues to seek $2 million in damages, citing racial discrimination, political retaliation, and reputational harm.

The Mets have not commented on the lawsuit, but the issue raises broader questions about free speech and political expression in public venues, particularly in sports arenas, where similar cases have occurred.

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