Please give us another chance: Influencers plead with the US Open after being ejected for disrespectful behavior

Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens are hoping the US Open will give them another chance after their tournament credentials were revoked just hours after they arrived in New York.

The duo, who run the social media account The VIP List, were thrilled to receive access to the year’s final Grand Slam.

They’d planned to spend the entire two-week tournament creating content after securing the opportunity through a partnership with one of their favorite restaurants at the event.

Their excitement, however, quickly turned into disappointment. After receiving their credentials, Radice and Jongens posted photographs of the passes on Instagram Stories.

They then headed out for dinner and drinks, believing they had the rest of the tournament ahead of them. Roughly two hours later, they were informed that their credentials had been revoked.

The influencers said they didn’t realize sharing the passes online violated tournament rules and insisted they wouldn’t have posted the images if they’d known. They also said they’d attended the US Open during the previous three years and had no intention of causing problems.

Now, they’re publicly asking the United States Tennis Association to reconsider its decision.

“We’re crying about it,” the pair said while emphasizing that there’s no hostility between them and tournament organizers. They described the US Open as their favorite sporting event and said they’d gladly accept an invitation from almost anyone if it meant getting back inside.

The disappointment appears to stem partly from how quickly their dream opportunity disappeared. According to the creators, they hadn’t even made it to a match before discovering that their access was gone.

“We were like, what do you mean?” Radice said, questioning how their credentials could be stripped before they’d even watched a match.

Influencers causing a stir at US Open

The credential dispute comes amid a wider controversy surrounding influencers at this year’s US Open.

The USTA has reportedly increased the number of content creators receiving credentials from 54 in 2025 to around 100 this year.

The move is designed to help tennis reach new audiences through social media, but it’s also brought increased scrutiny over whether some creators understand the etiquette expected at major sporting events.

During Naomi Osaka’s first-round match against Anastasia Zakharova, play was briefly interrupted amid complaints about influencers filming in a luxury suite. A viral video also appeared to show a woman using a bright light while posing for photographs during play.

The incidents prompted the tournament to issue a public reminder about photography and proper behavior at the event.

“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,” USTA spokesperson Brendan McIntyre said.

“These instances happen infrequently, and similar to when crowd noise reaches a certain level, our chair umpires have the ability to address the crowd when they occur.”

Players have also weighed in on the debate. Osaka stressed the importance of respecting the sport, while Jessica Pegula acknowledged that influencers can help promote tennis but said disruptive behavior crosses a line.

Radice and Jongens’ case is somewhat different. Their credentials were reportedly revoked after they posted images of their passes rather than because they disrupted a match.

Still, their ejection has become another example of the tension surrounding the tournament’s growing relationship with social media personalities.

The VIP List has built a following of nearly half a million across TikTok and Instagram through blunt restaurant reviews. Now, the creators are hoping their passion for tennis will be enough to convince the USTA to reconsider.

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