US Open influencers Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens say they lost their credentials as controversy grows over social media creators at the tournament.
The growing controversy surrounding influencers at the US Open has taken another turn after two New York-based content creators claimed their credentials were revoked just hours after they shared photographs of their passes online.
Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens, who run the social media account The VIP List, said they were devastated after being told they could no longer use their credentials to attend the Grand Slam in New York.
The pair had reportedly received access through a partnership involving a restaurant associated with the US Open.
They said they had planned to spend the tournament creating content for their followers and considered the opportunity a dream experience.
However, their access was reportedly revoked shortly after they posted images of their credentials to Instagram Stories.
The incident comes as the US Open faces increasing scrutiny over the growing presence of influencers and social media personalities at the tournament.
This year’s event has reportedly credentialed around 100 content creators, almost twice the number from the previous year.
While the tournament has embraced social media as a way of introducing tennis to new audiences, the increased presence of influencers has also sparked complaints from traditional fans.
Influencers say they were unaware of breaking rules
Speaking to TMZ, Radice and Jongens gave their account of what happened.
Radice explained that the pair had posted their credentials on social media before going to a restaurant for dinner.
“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,” she said.
Jongens said they were informed within roughly two hours of leaving the restaurant that their credentials could no longer be used.
“Within two hours of us leaving, we were told we could no longer use our credentials.
We were heartbroken and we still are,” she said.
The influencers insisted they did not realize that posting photographs of their credentials could create a problem.
They also said they had attended the US Open for the past three years and considered themselves passionate tennis fans.
According to the pair, their intention was to create content throughout the tournament while respecting the rules of the event.
“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 said.
Radice questioned why their credentials had been removed before they had even attended a match.
“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?” she said.
The pair also appealed to the USTA to reconsider its decision.
“We don’t even need an apology, we just want to go back,” they said.
They explained that they had canceled plans and prepared outfits specifically for the two-week tournament, making the loss of access particularly disappointing.
USTA disputes influencers’ version of events
The USTA, however, offered a different explanation for why Radice and Jongens lost their access.
According to Brendan McIntyre, the USTA’s managing director and head of US Open, professional tennis and USA Tennis content and communications, the pair were not officially credentialed as media members or content creators.
“These individuals were not credentialed as media or content creators,” McIntyre said in a statement reported by The Athletic.
Instead, he said, they had been improperly included on a staff list supplied by a food vendor.
“They were improperly submitted for credentials on a staff list provided by a food vendor,” McIntyre explained.
The statement suggests that the dispute was not simply about the influencers posting photographs of their passes online, as their initial account appeared to suggest.
The USTA’s explanation indicates that the credentials themselves had been issued under a category that did not accurately reflect the pair’s role at the tournament.
US Open faces wider influencer debate
The dispute comes at a time when the US Open is facing a much broader debate about how influencers should behave at major sporting events.
The tournament has become increasingly popular with social media creators, with organizers reportedly granting credentials to around 100 influencers this year.
Supporters argue that creators can help tennis reach younger audiences and introduce the sport to people who may not traditionally follow professional tennis.
Critics, however, have raised concerns about etiquette inside Arthur Ashe Stadium and other tournament venues.
Among the complaints are spectators taking photographs during points, moving around while players are preparing to serve and filming content in areas where spectators are expected to remain seated and quiet.
The controversy intensified earlier in the tournament when four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka was involved in an incident during her first-round match against Anastasia Zakharova.
During the match, a group of spectators in one of Arthur Ashe Stadium’s hospitality suites were reportedly taking photographs and moving around while the players were preparing to resume play.
The chair umpire was forced to intervene and address the group.
“Guys, please, in the suite behind me, please thank you guys, please take your seat,” the umpire told spectators.
Another person in the stands could reportedly be heard reminding the group that the players were ready.
Once the stadium became quieter, Osaka attempted to continue, although she struggled with her ball toss and had to reset before serving again.
Videos later circulated on social media appearing to show members of the group posing for photographs during the match. In one clip, a person who appeared to be a US Open staff member could be seen holding a portable light.
Another spectator was also reportedly seen using a portable light while posing near the court during live action.
USTA defends its approach to fan behavior
The USTA has emphasized that spectators and guests are welcome to enjoy the tournament and document their experiences, but their activities cannot interfere with the competition.
“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,” McIntyre said.
He added that incidents involving disruptive spectators happen infrequently and that chair umpires have the authority to intervene when necessary.
The latest credential dispute therefore adds another layer to an increasingly complicated conversation surrounding influencers and professional tennis.
For Radice and Jongens, the controversy has left them frustrated after they said they were looking forward to attending the tournament and producing content for their audience.
For the USTA, meanwhile, the incident highlights the importance of ensuring that credentials are issued under the correct categories as the US Open continues to embrace the rapidly expanding world of social media.
With influencer attendance at major sporting events continuing to grow, the debate over access, content creation and traditional sporting etiquette is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.