Ravens Leadership Speaks Out  

Maryland woke up to a rare and powerful message from Baltimore Ravens President Steve Bisciotti, who addressed the viral scandal involving “Ravens Karen” dominating national headlines.

In his statement, Bisciotti called the actions of Emily Hargrove – the woman caught on video yelling “Call ICE!” and hurling a drink at a U.S. veteran of Latin descent during the Week 18 game – “Un-American, disrespectful, and completely contrary to what Baltimore and the Ravens stand for.”

Consistent with the response he outlined, Bisciotti confirmed that the Ravens had revoked all game tickets purchased or held by Hargrove, processed refunds according to terms and conditions, and imposed a lifetime ban on her from M&T Bank Stadium and all Ravens-related events.

“The Ravens do not tolerate hatred — not in Baltimore, not at M&T Bank Stadium, and not under the American flag. The Ravens are built on respect, kindness, and community spirit — and we will protect those values with everything we have,” Bisciotti declared.

His words immediately went viral, receiving widespread praise on social media and being shared by thousands of Ravens fans, veterans, and even rival NFL communities.

The Incident Sparks a Firestorm  

Ravens female fan threw a drink in the face of a Steelers fan in front of his son. 🏈 😳 🍺 pic.twitter.com/GShE7lQfik

— Rain Drops Media (@Raindropsmedia1) January 4, 2026

The scandal began in the final minutes of the Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium. In a video that spread across every major platform, Emily Hargrove – quickly nicknamed “Ravens Karen” by internet users – yelled “Call ICE!” at Miguel Rivera, a Steelers fan of Latin descent and a U.S. military veteran, before hurling her drink directly into his face right in front of his young son.

Rivera, though shocked, remained composed, standing his ground and declaring that he had served in two tours of duty and was a proud American citizen. The confrontation escalated when Hargrove was accused of attempting to grab his phone, prompting security to intervene.

Both individuals were subsequently escorted out of the stadium, but public outrage overwhelmingly focused on Hargrove’s behavior – seen as an example of the racism and xenophobia that still haunt parts of American sports culture.

Within 24 hours, her employer, Pittsburgh Marketing Solutions, confirmed she had been fired, citing a “zero-tolerance policy for discriminatory or harassing behavior.” She also resigned from a volunteer position with a Pittsburgh-area charity.

Baltimore Draws a Line

While the Steelers organization initially remained silent on the matter, the Baltimore Ravens became one of the first teams to publicly comment on the issue – and they did so with unmistakable force.

In a detailed statement released on Monday morning, Steve Bisciotti connected the incident to the greater responsibility shared by all sports organizations:
“The values of sports – teamwork, respect, and unity – mean nothing if we remain silent in the face of hatred,” Bisciotti said.

“M&T Bank Stadium is sacred ground for millions of Americans. It’s a place where people of every color, language, and background stand side by side. That will never change.”

Bisciotti’s remarks were widely understood as a direct rebuke not only of Hargrove’s actions but also of the broader divisive atmosphere spreading across the country. He emphasized that the incident occurred at a Ravens away game, but the team would take decisive action to combat such behavior at their own venues.

Fans and Players Respond  

The reaction from the Ravens Flock was immediate and emotional. On X, the hashtag #RavensFlockUnited began trending within hours of the announcement.
Fans flooded the team’s official posts with messages of support:

“This is why we love Baltimore – not just football, but family.”
“M&T Bank stands for something bigger than wins. Thank you, Steve Bisciotti.”

Ravens players also chimed in.

LB Roquan Smith reposted the statement with a heart and flag emoji. QB Lamar Jackson added:

“Respect – that’s the standard. Always has been.”

Even rival fans spoke up, with one Pittsburgh Steelers supporter writing:  “I hate the Ravens every Sunday, but today… I respect them.”

A Statement Bigger Than Football  

Analysts note that the Ravens’ resolute, value-driven response reflects the deep community identity of Baltimore. In an era where sports are often divided by politics or race, the Ravens’ stance has become a model for American leadership in 2026.

Political commentators praised the message as “simple yet patriotic,” with major outlets describing it as “a moral playbook other teams should follow.”
In closing his speech, Bisciotti summed up the team’s stance with words that M&T Bank Stadium may echo for years to come:

“The Ravens don’t just play in America – we represent America. And in our house, hatred has no place.”