US Open says 2 influencers whose credentials were revoked were 'improperly submitted' as vendor staff
Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens, who run 'The VIP List,' claimed that their credentials were withdrawn after they posted a video of the passes, but the tournament is disputing that story.
Two influencers, Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens, lost their access to the 2026 US Open after posting their credentials in a video. The influencers, who run the New York restaurant and lifestyle account “The VIP List,” claimed that they had lost their credentials just two hours after posting the video. However, Brendan McIntyre, the head of the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) and the head of USA Tennis content and communications, stated that they were incorrectly credentialed.
McIntyre revealed that they were "improperly submitted for credentials on a staff list provided by a food vendor." The influencers, who are diehard tennis fans, had posted the video to show off their credentials. The issue of influencers at the tournament has been widespread, with the number of content creators being credentialed nearly doubling this year to around 100.
This increase has led to some disruptive behavior, such as influencers filming and taking photos during matches, causing games to be paused. Players like Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff have expressed concerns about etiquette and the impact of influencers on the sport.
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