Brandi Krause told Fox News she was forced out of a Portland Thorns game after wearing a shirt with XX-XY graphics, and she has not received an explanation from stadium officials. Krause appeared on the Laura Ingraham show to describe the incident, stating that security guards ordered her and a group of approximately 20 women to leave Providence Park. She noted that three days after the event, no one had told her why they were removed. Krause described a confrontation where she demanded to know the reason for their removal, insisting they had done nothing wrong. When a guard replied that she knew what she had done, Krause said she had no idea what was meant.
Krause described deciding not to leave voluntarily, stating she would make security physically remove her if they insisted. She said the group was subjected to verbal and physical aggression from other fans, including being hit with flags and having beer dumped on them. OutKick sports journalist Matt Calkins, who was covering the game, was also affected; Krause said he was assaulted by a crowd and had his press pass ripped from his chest by a security guard. The group had displayed a banner and worn t-shirts featuring biological chromosomes, a message Krause argued was simply about scientific reality.
The Portland Thorns issued a statement after the match, saying they are "committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for everyone." The club added that security and enforcement decisions are managed locally and that they are reviewing those actions to ensure policies were applied appropriately. The Thorns' official X account also posted a message celebrating their fans after the game, which drew criticism in the comments section. Krause pointed out the complexity of accountability, noting that Providence Park is owned by the city of Portland but operated by Peregrine Sports, while the Thorns are the tenant team. She said it remains unclear who ultimately made the decision to remove her group while leaving the individuals who assaulted them in the stadium.
Krause emphasized that the treatment she received was unacceptable regardless of how security handled the situation. She noted that one security guard confirmed he was not a police officer before removing her. "All they had to do is not react to our t-shirts, be functioning adults in the United States of America," Krause said. "And understand that sometimes you'll be confronted by ideas you don't agree with. And the answer to that is not violence." The Department of Justice has stepped in to investigate the incident.