The New York Mets ignited national backlash Friday night by displaying a Pride flag on the stadium scoreboard during the national anthem — a provocative move that triggered widespread outrage and renewed calls to boycott Major League Baseball.

The stunt occurred during the team’s ninth annual Pride Night at Citi Field on June 13. As “The Star-Spangled Banner” played, the jumbotron featured a rainbow Pride flag in place of the American flag.

A video of the moment, posted by @lisco_2000 on X, quickly went viral.

The controversy was amplified by the timing, as Flag Day is a significant occasion for national pride, and the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary parade in Washington, D.C., added to the symbolic weight of the day.

Fans expressed their outrage online, with calls for a boycott of the MLB gaining traction.

“That’s disgusting,@Mets,” wrote one user, while another urged, “Think the @mlb is looking to be boycotted.” The hashtag #BoycottMLB began trending as supporters of traditional patriotism voiced their intent to withdraw financial and emotional support from the league.

As of Sunday evening, neither the Mets nor Major League Baseball have issued a public statement addressing the backlash.

Are the Texas Rangers Participating in a Pride Night This Season?

The Austin-American Statesman reported earlier this month that the Texas Rangers remain the only Major League Baseball team not hosting a Pride Night in 2025.

The Rangers have not explained their decision publicly, but in a June 9 statement published by the Daily Citizen, the team said:

“Our longstanding commitment remains the same: To make everyone feel welcome and included in Rangers baseball — in our ballpark, at every game, and in all we do — for both our fans and our employees. We deliver on that promise across our many programs to have a positive impact across our entire community.”

While the Rangers have partnered with local LGBTQ+ organizations in the past — including Dallas’ Resource Center and the NAGAAA Gay Softball World Series in 2022 — they remain the only MLB team that has never hosted a formal Pride Night, even as 29 of 30 teams do so this year.

Although the Rangers are skipping Pride Night again in 2025, they are scheduled to play the Baltimore Orioles on June 25 — the same night the Orioles will host their own Pride celebration at Camden Yards.