A second woman has publicly denied being the woman who confronted a father and son at a Philadelphia Phillies game after a viral video sparked intense online sleuthing to identify the woman, widely dubbed the “Phillies Karen.”
The Hammonton Public Schools district in New Jersey issued a statement after its name circulated on social media alleging one of its employees was the woman in the clip. "The woman identified on social media as 'Phillies Karen' is not, and has never been an employee of the Hammonton Public Schools located in Hammonton, New Jersey," the district posted on Facebook. The district added, "Social media and news reports indicating that she is, are incorrect," and wrote that anyone connected to the district "would obviously have caught the ball bare-handed in the first place, avoiding this entire situation."
The incident occurred Friday night at loanDepot Park in Miami during a game between the Phillies and the Miami Marlins, when Phillies outfielder Harrison Bader hit a home run that landed near fans. Video shared widely online shows multiple spectators reaching for the ball and a man in a red Phillies shirt successfully picking it up and returning to his seat before handing it to his 10-year-old son. The woman then descended to the man's row, confronted him and, amid shouting, the father handed the ball to the woman.
The family identified in the footage, including 10-year-old Lincoln Feltwell and his father, Drew, spoke about the episode to NBC 10 Philadelphia. Lincoln told reporters he was unhappy that the family had to give up the ball. "I wasn’t very happy that we had to give it to her, but we can’t win," he said. Drew Feltwell said he gave the ball to the woman in an effort to "set an example of how to de-escalate a situation in front of my son," and later apologized to his son for handing the ball over.
As the video circulated, thousands of people on X and other platforms attempted to identify the woman, leading to several mistaken accusations. A woman named Cheryl Richardson-Wagner posted on her Facebook page to deny she was the person in the footage, saying she was not at the game and noting she is a Boston Red Sox fan. She wrote, "Ok everyone... I'm NOT the crazy Philly Mom (but I sure would love to be as thin as she is and move as fast)... and I'm a Red Sox fan," and later changed her profile cover photo to the Red Sox logo.
Another unnamed woman was targeted after a social media post alleged she was a "school administrator" and had been fired. Hammonton Public Schools said those reports were incorrect and that the person identified online had never worked for the district.
The online attempts to identify the woman reflect a broader pattern in which viral moments prompt internet users to probe public records and social media. The person at the center of the video has not been publicly identified by authorities, and the postings misdirecting blame have drawn criticism from people wrongly accused.
The Feltwell family said they still appreciated the experience of attending the game and seeing Bader play. "I'm happy I got to get something else. It was very, very fun getting to meet Bader," Lincoln said. The family has not said whether they plan to pursue legal action. Authorities at loanDepot Park and the Phillies did not immediately release statements identifying the woman seen in the video.
The episode has continued to circulate online, underscoring how quickly unverified claims can harm individuals when viral footage prompts amateur investigations and mistaken identity. Social media platforms have not announced removals or enforcement actions tied to the misidentifications.