US Open chiefs have revealed why two entitled influencers were kicked out of the tournament and stripped of their access after they claimed it was because they shared images of their credentials online.
Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens, two NYC-based influencers who run the social media account The VIP List, said their passes were revoked just hours after they committed the cardinal sin.
The pair posted photos of their credentials on social media when they went to have dinner at a restaurant they had partnered with for the tournament.
‘We post our credentials on our story. We go to our favorite restaurant. Have a nice steak dinner. We’re downing Honey Deuces. We’re having a great time, haven’t even made it to court yet,’ Redice told TMZ.
‘Within two hours of us leaving, we were told we could no longer use our credentials. We were heartbroken and we still are,’ Jongens added.
However, the USTA has now hit back with their own version of events, saying that their access was revoked because they had been improperly submitted as vendor staff.
Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens had their US Open credentials revoked earlier this week
Radice and Jongens are NYC-based influencers who run the social media account The VIP List
‘These individuals were not credentialed as media or content creators,’ the USTA said in a statement to The New York Post.
‘They were improperly submitted for credentials on a staff list provided by a food vendor. Vendors are not permitted to credential media, content creators, or outside individuals as part of their staff.
‘We review credentials throughout the tournament to ensure compliance with all US Open policies.
‘When we identified that these individuals had been improperly credentialed, their access was revoked and vendors were reminded of our policy.’
Redice and Jongens have described themselves as ‘diehard’ tennis fans and said that they had intended to film content at the Grand Slam over the course of the two weeks, branding it a ‘dream’ opportunity.
‘We were there to be respectful and follow the rules and just have a good time and show content to our followers about how amazing the US Open is,’ Jongens added to TMZ.
‘We were like, what do you mean? We had our credentials just stripped away within two hours before we even get to see a match. How does this happen?’ Radice questioned.
‘It was taken away like that. Just because we wanted to show how hot we looked in our credentials,’ Radice added.
The pair pleaded with the USTA to allow them to return, saying: ‘We don’t even need an apology, we just want to go back.’
They bemoaned the fact that they had cancelled plans for the two weeks and planned their outfits to be able to attend the event.
US Open chiefs said the duo were removed after being wrongly submitted as vendor staff
One social media user called out ‘influencers’ for taking pictures while action was ongoing
Guests of a US Open hospitality suite were told off by a chair umpire for taking pictures during a game, seemingly using a portable light (ringed)
This year’s tournament has seen the number of influencers at the event almost boule with the USTA credentialing 100 content creators.
Yet, the impromptu photoshoot between points, chatting and moving around have caused quite the stir at Arthur Ashe, leaving traditional tennis fans disgruntled over the lack of etiquette.
Earlier in the week, Naomi Osaka was forced to wait until the chair umpire had chided a group of spectators in one of Arthur Ashe’s hospitality suites.
‘Guys, please, in the suite behind me, please thank you guys, please take your seat,’ the chair umpire announced to the stadium, as the broadcast camera panned to a group milling freely within their prime seats, taking pictures and talking.
Elsewhere in the stands, another spectator was heard calling out: ‘The players are ready!’
When the stadium had stilled somewhat, Osaka returned to her serve but struggled with her ball toss, apologizing as she reset.
Footage captured from another spectator of the group on social media later showed them posing as a group, allegedly during a game, with a person who appeared to be a member of US Open staff holding up a portable light to help them capture the shot.
The social media clip showed another spectator on the same evening posing in front of the court with a portable light, also allegedly during live matchplay.
When contacted by Daily Mail Sport for comment on the incident, Brendan McIntyre, head of US Open communications said: ‘We want our fans and guests to have an incredible time when they attend the US Open, but we also need to ensure that does not interfere with the action and competition on the court.
‘These instances happen infrequently, and similar to when crowd noise reaches a certain level, our chair umpires have the ability to address the crowd when they occur.’
