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U.S. Open Influencers Spark Backlash over Ring Lights, Filming as Gauff and Osaka Speak Out

SAN ANTONIO OBSERVER — The U.S. Open expanded its official content creator program this year, nearly doubling from 54 creators in 2025 to approximately 100 in 2026. This initiative aimed to bring more social media creators into one of tennis’ biggest events.
The post U.S. Open Influencers Spark Backlash over Ring Lights, Filming as Gauff and Osaka Speak Out appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 month ago

September 7, 2026

Oakland Post

Tournament Expands Creator Access As Viral Disruptions Prompt New Reminders About Tennis Etiquette

The U.S. Open’s effort to bring more social media creators into one of tennis’ biggest events is generating plenty of attention — just not always for what is happening on the court.

The tournament nearly doubled its official content creator program this year, growing from 54 creators in 2025 to roughly 100 in 2026. But viral videos showing guests filming content, posing for photos, and using bright lights during matches have triggered criticism from longtime tennis fans and prompted organizers to reinforce rules against disruptive behavior.

The debate has also drawn responses from two of the sport’s most recognizable Black stars, Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff, who say creators can help tennis reach new audiences — as long as they respect the game’s traditions.

Viral Videos Put U.S. Open Influencers Under Scrutiny

One of the biggest controversies erupted during Osaka’s first-round match against Anastasia Zakharova at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Play was briefly interrupted after a disturbance from a luxury suite, where a group of women could be seen recording themselves during play. Video of the incident quickly spread across social media.

Another viral clip showed a woman posing for photographs inside Arthur Ashe Stadium while Madison Keys competed against Alina Korneeva below. A bright light was being used as play continued.

@katticuspfinch Tennis etiquette is that you don’t even GET UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A POINT but now at @US Open apparently it’s ring lights and photo shoots everywhere in the MIDDLE OF A POINT. Listen, I love bringing new people to the open and I’m all for getting more people into tennis because it’s such a fun sport to watch but if you’re going to disrespect the players, you shouldn’t come to the match. And I LOVE content creators bringing tennis to everyone on social media but if you’re not going to be respectful of the game being played thats NOT OKAY. Yyou can see ring lights from all over the stadium and the umpire and players made it very clear that it’s a HUGE DISTRACTION and it’s now impacting the players ability to play the game we are all here to see. And apparently the us open and USTA are just fine with it because their staff is helping it happen. @influencersinthewild @Tennis Channel #nyccontentcreator #naomiosaka #usopen #tennistiktok #usopentennis ♬ original sound – There I Ruined It

The incidents fueled complaints that content creation was beginning to interfere with a sport where spectators traditionally remain quiet during points and avoid flash photography.

Also Read: Naomi Osaka Turns Heads With Gray Hoodie and Iverson-Inspired Cornrows at U.S. Open

The U.S. Open responded by posting additional notices around the stadium and VIP suites, reminding spectators that flash photography, ring lights, and other distracting lighting are prohibited during matches.

Not everyone caught up in the controversy was part of the tournament’s official creator program. The women filmed in the suite during Osaka’s match, for example, were guests rather than officially credentialed U.S. Open influencers.

Creators Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens also made headlines after losing their tournament access. The pair initially said they believed their credentials had been revoked after they posted photographs of their passes online. The USTA later said they had actually been improperly placed on a food vendor’s staff credential list and that vendors are not authorized to credential media members or content creators.

Osaka And Gauff See Opportunity — With Some Rules

Despite the backlash, Osaka said social media creators could help introduce tennis to people who otherwise might not follow the sport.

“It could be a good thing for people to make the sport of tennis popular to their specific audience, but I think it has to be managed a lot better,” Osaka said. “You want people to continue to grow the sport. I just think it has to be in a way that everyone knows the rules and the etiquette.”

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Gauff offered a similar assessment, saying she welcomes creators and the new audiences they can bring.

“I think it’s great to have a different demographic come to the sport,” Gauff said, adding that many of the creators she follows already understand tennis etiquette.

She also said that brands inviting guests to major tournaments have some responsibility to ensure newcomers understand what is expected.

“With anything, any venue you go to, like if you’re being invited to red carpet, you wouldn’t show up in jeans,” Gauff said. “So I think it’s just follow the etiquette of the sport.”

Gauff’s comments reflect a broader tension for the tournament: tennis organizations want the visibility influencers can provide, particularly among younger audiences, without allowing content creation to interfere with competition.

That outreach comes as Black players continue to hold an increasingly visible place in American tennis. Gauff, Osaka, Madison Keys, Taylor Townsend and Frances Tiafoe are among the sport’s most recognizable names, while participation among Black Americans has also been growing.

The USTA reported that about 3.7 million Black Americans played tennis in 2025, an increase of more than 450,000 from the previous year.

For the U.S. Open, the lesson emerging from this year’s influencer experiment may be less about whether creators belong at tennis tournaments and more about making sure everyone who enters Arthur Ashe Stadium understands the same basic rule: create the content, but don’t become part of the match.

Based on reporting by San Antonio Observer.

The post U.S. Open Influencers Spark Backlash over Ring Lights, Filming as Gauff and Osaka Speak Out appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts found Darius Cooper with nine seconds left for the game winning touchdown as his team beat the Tennessee Titans 24-20 in Nashville. Hurts finished the day 26/37 for 264 yards. He threw for two touchdowns and two interceptions. Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 […]
The post NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

September 20, 2026

Oakland Post

Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 yards. During the final drive Hurts went 6-8 with 61 passing yards and the touchdown. Titans defensive tackle — and team captain — Jeffery Simmons said this week that the way to defend Jalen Hurts is to make him “play quarterback.”

Hurts said to Simmons after today’s game: “You started that sh**. I had to finish it.”

Running back Saquon Barkley suffered a stinger in the first half but he ultimately finished the game. He had four carries and nine yards and one catch for eleven yards. He will get an MRI for his injury, but admitted to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network he was fine.

Caleb Williams leaves game against Vikings with apparent lower-body injury

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was helped off the field with a right leg injury with 7:42 remaining in the fourth quarter. Williams was down, writhing in pain after scrambling to his left. After departing the injury tent, Williams raised his right fist, acknowledging the crowd while expressing his frustration. Testing will commence on Monday to find out more details about his injury.

“We’ll know tomorrow,” Johnson admitted regarding Williams’ injury. “He’s in good spirits. He’s a team player.”

Williams finished the day with 138 passing yards and one interception.

“I’m actually happy it’s nothing with the knee — that was my first inclination,” Johnson said. “But, a hamstring could be pretty damaging as well. So, we’ll see. We’ll see how bad it is tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”

Bryce Young once again dominated the Falcons

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is 5-1 against the Atlanta Falcons and is undefeated at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Today, Young threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns as he led the Panthers to a 34-3 dismembering of the Atlanta Falcons. Georgia Tech alumnus Darren Waller caught two touchdowns and linebacker Devin Lloyd returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown.

Cooper Rush started his second straight game for the Falcons and it did not go well. The partisan crowd voiced their displeasure after Rush completed 10/17 passes for 86 yards and two interceptions. Jack Strand entered the game for Rush prompting cheers from the Falcons fans. The rookie threw a pick-six on his first career pass attempt. Strand was the first QB to accomplish that feat since Sam Darnold in 2018 and is the first Falcons player to do that since Brett Favre in 1991. Strand finished the day with 59 passing yards and 16 rushing yards.

According to reports, quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. is expected to make his season debut this Thursday at the Green Bay Packers. His return should help the Falcons. They are the first team since the 2008 Rams to not run any plays in the red zone after the first two games to open a season.

The bright spots for the Falcons today were the Spelman College Jaguarettes performing with the Falcons cheerleaders and Florida A&M’s marching band, The Marching 100, also performed during halftime!

Jayden Daniels gets carted off after apparent arm injury

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels appeared to injure his left elbow on the final play of the first half in his game against the Dallas Cowboys. During the play, Daniels got stepped on, braced himself for the fall, and his elbow bent the wrong way. Daniels draped a towel over his head as he exited the field on the cart.

He was later ruled out.

Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow to the same arm during week nine of last season against the Washington Commanders, which led to him being shut down for the remainder of the season.

The post NFL: Week Two Recap | Jalen Hurts did not fold; Caleb Williams exits game with injury appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win

Master the complete vehicle-purchase negotiation framework with Roosevelt Gist and Roosevelt. Learn every stage, tactic, and win!
The post The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

September 20, 2026

Oakland Post

Negotiation framework stages, tactics, and winning strategies from AutoNetwork

Roosevelt Gist and Roosevelt deliver the complete vehicle-purchase negotiation framework in Episode 8 of The Color of Our Money Is Green. This episode covers the three foundations of every effective negotiation, the full seven-stage negotiation sequence with exact language for every stage, and five of the most common dealership tactics with the specific response each one requires.
What You Learn in This Episode:
The three foundations that make every negotiation tactic work
The complete seven-stage car-buying negotiation sequence
Exact language for every stage of the dealership conversation
Five common dealership tactics — the turnover, the four-square, the packed payment, spot delivery, and forced add-ons — and how to counter each one
Why signing preliminary paperwork isn’t the same as signing the final contract
___________________________________________________________________
“The Color of Our Money Is Green: A Buyer’s Guide to What Cars Actually Cost” — stan.store/RGist
____________________________________________________________________
AutoNetwork helps serious car shoppers inspect any new vehicle online before walking into a dealership. I’m Roosevelt — I’ve been reviewing cars and shaping digital car buying and credit union auto leasing since before YouTube car reviews existed.
You’ll find detailed walkaround reviews, POV test drives, and buyer-focused breakdowns covering comfort, space, features, and real-world value.

How to use the channel:
Watch the walkaround of the car you’re considering
Visit AutoNetwork.com for the full review
Check CouponsOffersAndDeals.com for current dealer specials
Walk in already knowing what you want — and what it should cost

AutoNetwork.com
CouponsOffersAndDeals.com
Affiliate disclosure: some links earn a small commission at no cost to you and help support the channel. Insta360 is one of those partners.

The post The Complete Negotiation Framework — Every Stage, Every Tactic, Every Win appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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Mazda CX-90 Luxury: Heated Seats & Premium Comfort! #shorts

Stay toasty in the CX-90! Plush Nappa leather, heated/ventilated seats, and a memory-equipped heated steering wheel deliver ultimate luxury.
The post Mazda CX-90 Luxury: Heated Seats & Premium Comfort! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

September 20, 2026

Oakland Post

Mazda CX-90 interior with heated seats offering premium comfort.

Experience ultimate comfort in the CX-90. Nappa leather, heated/ventilated seats, 8-way power adjustments, and memory settings for both front passengers. The heated steering wheel with memory tilt/telescope adds premium convenience.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/EH5A4eQ4ipY