Michael Kay Blasts 'Jilted' Yankees Fans Over 'F--k Juan Soto' Chants

The YES Network broadcaster criticized Yankees fans for their vulgar chants toward the former Bronx Bomber now playing for the Mets.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:33pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game or match between the Yankees and Mets, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette.The intense rivalry between the Yankees and Mets fans is on full display as the teams battle it out on the field.NYC Today

Michael Kay, the YES Network broadcaster and host of 'The Michael Kay Show' on ESPN Radio, strongly criticized Yankees fans who chanted 'F--k Juan Soto' during Sunday's game against the Marlins. Kay called the chants an 'awful look' and said the fans looked 'like babies' and 'jilted lovers' upset that Soto left the Yankees for the Mets in a better contract deal. Kay defended Soto, saying he did nothing wrong in signing with the Mets, and warned the chants could give 'ammunition to Met fans' to say the Yankees are still obsessed with their former player.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the intense rivalry between the Yankees and Mets, as well as the passionate reactions from Yankees fans when a star player leaves the team. It also raises questions about fan behavior and sportsmanship, as well as the role of media personalities in addressing inappropriate fan conduct.

The details

During the eighth inning of Sunday's Yankees-Marlins game, fans at Yankee Stadium began chanting 'F--k Juan Soto,' which bled onto the broadcast of the game. On his radio show the next day, Kay took time to address the chants, calling them an 'awful look' for Yankees fans. He said the fans looked 'like babies' and 'jilted lovers' upset that Soto left the Yankees for the Mets in 2024 after the Mets offered him a better contract deal. Kay defended Soto, saying he did nothing wrong in signing with the Mets, and warned the chants could give 'ammunition to Met fans' to say the Yankees are still obsessed with their former player.

  • The chants occurred during the eighth inning of the Yankees-Marlins game on Sunday, April 7, 2026.
  • Kay addressed the chants on his radio show, 'The Michael Kay Show,' on ESPN Radio on Monday, April 8, 2026.

The players

Michael Kay

A broadcaster for the YES Network and host of 'The Michael Kay Show' on ESPN Radio, who criticized Yankees fans for their vulgar chants toward Juan Soto.

Juan Soto

A former Yankees player who signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets in December 2024 after helping lead the Yankees to the World Series earlier that year.

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What they’re saying

“Yankee fans, it's an awful look. It's not something that should become a thing. It's an awful look. You look like babies, you look like jilted lovers that you're upset that Juan Soto left you for the Mets. There's nothing that would have led you, a right-minded fan, to chant that last night. Nothing. You make yourself look small, you make yourself look jealous, you make yourself look like you can't accept the fact that somebody left you.”

— Michael Kay, Broadcaster, YES Network

“Juan Soto didn't do anything wrong. He went to the Mets, who had a better deal on the table.”

— Michael Kay, Broadcaster, YES Network

What’s next

The incident has sparked a wider discussion about fan behavior and sportsmanship in baseball, and it remains to be seen if the 'F--k Juan Soto' chants become a recurring issue for the Yankees and their fans.

The takeaway

This episode highlights the intense rivalry between the Yankees and Mets, as well as the passionate reactions from Yankees fans when a star player leaves the team. It also raises questions about the role of media personalities in addressing inappropriate fan conduct and the need for better sportsmanship among fans.