Comedian George Lopez, a long-standing and devoted fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has expressed profound disappointment and a feeling of being ‘hurt’ after alleging the baseball organization blocked him on social media. This move, according to Lopez, stems directly from his vocal criticism regarding the Dodgers’ perceived inaction on the contentious issue of ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids and their broader stance on immigration advocacy.
For years, Lopez has been an outspoken opponent of ICE, consistently using his platform to advocate for immigrant communities. His calls have specifically targeted his beloved Dodgers, urging them to adopt a more public and robust position in support of immigrants within the Los Angeles community, especially in the wake of heightened immigration enforcement activities.
The controversy escalated on July 12 when Lopez publicly claimed the Dodgers, whom he had visited earlier in the year, had unfollowed or blocked him on their social media channels due to his persistent opposition. He conveyed to media outlets that he found this alleged blocking “hurtful,” a sentiment he later echoed in a social media video where he humorously, yet pointedly, danced with the caption: ‘POV: You just got blocked by the Dodgers’.
In a passionate follow-up post, Lopez directly challenged the Dodgers’ priorities. He wrote, “The Dodgers blocked me on social media for my criticism of the team, so they’ll take a stand on me, but not on the treatment of the families who called Chavez Ravine Home before they decided to build a baseball stadium where they lived and where their families called home.” This powerful statement linked the current immigration debate to a historical injustice associated with the team.
The reference to Chavez Ravine harks back to a dark chapter in Los Angeles history. Chavez Ravine was a vibrant, predominantly low-income Hispanic community that was forcibly displaced in the 1950s to clear the land for what would eventually become Dodger Stadium. The stadium’s construction, completed in 1962, saw the Brooklyn Dodgers relocate to Los Angeles, but at the significant social cost of uprooting an established community, an issue that resonates deeply with the ongoing immigration debate and the concerns raised by Lopez.
Lopez’s critical post continued, “Also no comment from the owners (on ICE). What’s happening everyday to the families of the people who are being treated like they don’t belong? If anyone doesn’t belong it’s the Dodgers.” He went on to propose a searing hypothetical: “Maybe since the Dodgers have stayed silent on the issue of the treatment and enforcement of ICE on the Latino Community, maybe at the next fan fest or homestand they can have ICE Agents or these bounty hunters dress up as the visiting team and during the 7th inning stretch they can remove fans, since their loyalty to the team means nothing to them.”
While the Dodgers have been approached for comment, they have yet to publicly address Lopez’s specific claims of being blocked. However, Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten previously issued a statement acknowledging the “reverberation” of events in Los Angeles and the calls for the team to take a leading role. He affirmed, “We believe that by committing resources and taking action, we will continue to support and uplift the communities of Greater Los Angeles,” though this was a general statement not directly in response to Lopez. Separately, the Dodgers confirmed that ICE agents were denied entry to Dodger Stadium parking lots on a specific morning, ensuring that a game would proceed as scheduled.
Despite the current friction, George Lopez’s lifelong passion for the Los Angeles Dodgers is well-documented. In a 2016 piece for ESPN, he fondly recounted his first awe-struck visit to Dodger Stadium and how attending games became a cherished family tradition. He wrote, “I’ll never forget seeing Dodger Stadium for the first time. Little did I know that going to Dodger games would become a tradition for my family,” underscoring his deep-rooted connection to the team, making the current alleged blocking particularly poignant for the comedian and the Los Angeles Dodgers fanbase.
This evolving situation highlights the increasing pressure on major sports organizations like the Los Angeles Dodgers to take public stands on social and political issues, especially when those issues directly impact the communities they represent. The interaction between public figures like George Lopez, passionate fans, and established institutions regarding sensitive topics such as ICE and immigration advocacy continues to shape public discourse and team relations.
