Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula Speak Out Against Disruptive Influencers at 2026 US Open

Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula reacted to viral videos of influencers being disruptive while filming content during the 2026 US Open. Around 100 influencers and content creators have been granted accreditation for the tournament in New York – double the amount from last year, leading to concerns over sportsmanship and event etiquette.

After winning her second-round match against Katerina Siniakova, Naomi Osaka shared her thoughts on influencers being disruptive while filming content during matches. During her post-game press conference on September 3, she noted that 'the umpire told everyone to be quiet more than I've ever heard an umpire tell a crowd to be quiet'. During one match, a group of influencers was spotted in a now-viral clip making a video while loudly saying Kim Kardashian's quote, 'Hey, guys. We're back. Did you miss us 'cause we missed you'. Osaka told reporters: 'If you come to a sporting event, you have to respect the sport. It's common courtesy to read up on the sport, especially the etiquette. It could be a good thing for people to make the sport of tennis popular to their specific audience'. The champion believes there are 'huge positives' to having content creators at the event but emphasized 'it has to be managed a lot better, especially in the situation like my first-round match'. Jessica Pegula also raised concerns, noting that 'people are down there trying to perform, and it's their career and their job. And it seems a bit disrespectful', particularly when influencers used lighting equipment during matches. According to Brendan McIntyre, the US Open head of communications, the tournament is actively reminding attendees to refrain from disruptive activity through advance emails and video board messaging, though he stated that such instances happen infrequently and chair umpires possess the ability to address crowds when disruptions occur.