Overview
- Todd Ricketts’ interview, which aired Tuesday on OutKick’s Don’t @ Me, called Matt Shaw’s choice “normal” and urged grace for how people grieve.
- Shaw missed one game in September 2025 to attend the memorial of his friend Charlie Kirk at the request of Kirk’s widow, Erika.
- The Cubs lost 1-0 at Cincinnati that day during a playoff race, and MLB bereavement rules did not allow a roster replacement for a non-family death.
- Criticism followed from some fans and media figures, including SNY Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen, who labeled the absence “weird.”
- Right-leaning outlets amplified Ricketts’ defense and cast the earlier backlash as politically driven, underscoring how coverage split along ideological lines.