Cubs rookie Matt Shaw stirred up some controversy this week after it came out that he missed Sunday’s 1-0 game against the Reds to attend the funeral of conservative activist and outspoken Cubs fan Charlie Kirk in Arizona. Reportedly, the team had permitted Shaw to go, but his absence wasn’t explained until after the game. And it took just two days to break the silence after his funeral visit. This time, from around the Mets camp.

Notably, things really heated up on Tuesday night at Wrigley, when Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen weighed in during the Cubs-Mets game. “I don’t want to talk about any of the politics of it. But the thought of leaving your team in the middle of a race for any reason other than a family emergency really strikes me as weird.” Cohen made it clear he wasn’t exactly on board with Shaw’s decision.

However, his comments sparked a fresh wave of headlines and reactions online, though a lot of what’s being reported about the fallout hasn’t been confirmed yet.

“Mets fans are boycotting the team and refunding tickets until announcer Gary Cohen publicly apologizes for criticizing Cubs player Matt Shaw for missing a game to attend Charlie Kirk’s memorial, pointing out Cohen himself skipped a game after the death of a pet.” Right Angle News Network shared via X.

At a glance, the post that already got 4 million views surely looks like the Mets fans have taken things into their own hands to protest against Cohen.

The Mets are now playing the Cubs at Wrigley Park in Chicago. Their next and last regular season series is against the Marlins in LoanDepot Park. So, they will end the regular season on the road.

The Mets are currently placed third in the NL Wild Card standings. And if the Reds can’t overcome their one-game difference, the Mets are going to the postseason. And if so,  the Wild Card games are scheduled in Dodger Stadium and Wrigley Park. So, in the first round, Citi Field got no games. Then, which games are the fans boycotting?

While there may be scattered fan protests over Cohen’s remark, the claim made here is hard to believe and seems fabricated.

Shaw seems unabated by the noise from the Mets camp

Amid all the chaos, Shaw is standing by his decision to miss a game to attend Charlie Kirk’s memorial service. Reportedly, the 23-year-old said he was personally invited by Kirk’s widow, Erika, for the funeral.

Moreover, Shaw downplayed any backlash, saying he wasn’t worried about criticism. “Whatever backlash comes is OK.” As per Shaw, he and Kirk had grown close while living in the same apartment complex in Arizona. They bonded over their faith. Kirk would regularly text him after games, and the two even snapped a photo with Cubs teammate Michael Busch in the Wrigley dugout back in August.

Shaw even received a public show of support from Kirk’s former Chief of Staff, Michael McCoy. “Charlie is gone, and Matt Shaw is receiving backlash for attending his friend’s memorial. Shame on Gary Cohen,” McCoy remarked via X.

Nevertheless, the off-field noises didn’t hamper Shaw’s performance within the foul line. In the second game of the Cubs-Mets series, Shaw blasted a home run in the Cubs’ 10-3 win over the Mets.