Two New York influencers from the lifestyle platform The VIP List were removed from the U.S. Open at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. While the creators claim they were ejected for posting credential photos, the USTA maintains the removal was due to improper staff classification via a food vendor.
The dispute over "The VIP List" credentials
Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens, the duo behind the New York-based lifestyle platform The VIP List, claim they were removed from the U.S. Open due to social media activity. According to a report from The Athletic, the influencers told TMZ they believed their access was revoked approximately two hours after arriving at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center because they posted images of their credentials online.. The VIP List maintains a significant digital presence, boasting over 440,000 followers on TikTok and 150,000 on Instagram.
The USTA has offered a different explanation for the ejection of Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens. Brendan McIntyre, the USTA's managing director and head of U.S. Open content and communications , stated that the pair were not actually credentialed as media or content creators. Instead, McIntyre noted that the individuals "were improperly submitted for credentials on a staff list provided by a food vendor." This distinction is critical, as it shifts the focus from a policy violation regarding social media posts to a fundamental error in how the individuals were categorized by the tournament's administrative systems.
The 2026 credential rules and the rise of content creators
The incident highlights the evolving relationship between major sporting events and the digital creator economy. The U.S. Open has been progressively integrating social media personalities into its official ecosystem. In 2025, the tournament approved 54 content creators to receive media-style credentials, and that number has grown to nearly 100 for the current year's tournament.
Despite this increased access, the regulatory framework remains strict. The 2026 U.S . Open terms governing media and content creator credentials explicitly state that holders must not publish or distribute any image or video of their credentials, including on social media platforms. This rule is designed to prevent security breaches and credential fraud, creating a narrow tightrope for influencers who rely on "behind-the-scenes" visual content to engage their massive audiences.
Friction in Arthur Ashe Stadium over social media etiquette
The tension between traditional tennis decorum and modern content creation is already palpable at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.. This friction was recently highlighted during a match between two-time champion Naomi Osaka and Anastasia Zakharova in Arthur Ashe Stadium. During the match, the chair umpire was forced to pause play because of an impromptu photoshoot occurring in the stands, prompting the tournament to flash messages on the jumbotrons asking fans to refrain from using flash photography.
While the U.S.. Open has long been known for a more relaxed atmosphere compared to other major tournaments—often characterized by fans enjoying $23 Honey Deuce cocktails—the influx of content creators adds a new layer of complexity. The USTA is attempting to balance the commercial benefits of reaching new, younger audiences through influencers with the need to maintain the integrity and focus of the professional matches being played on the world's biggest courts.
The food vendor's role in the improper staff submission
Several specific details regarding the credentialing error remain unverified. The tournament has indicated that the error originated from a staff list provided by a food vendor, yet the identity of this vendor has not been disclosed. It remains unclear whether the vendor intentionally misclassified Radice and Jongens or if the error was a clerical mistake during the submission process.
Furthermore, the source report notes that Radice, Jongens, and the food vendor involved have been contacted for comment, but their specific defense or explanation has not yet been made public.. This leaves a significant gap in the narrative: was this a case of influencers attempting to byapss rules, or a systemic failure in how third-party vendors interact with the USTA's credentialing software?
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