MLB: 'No Malicious Intent' In Padres National Anthem Mishap Involving Gay Men's Chorus

SAN DIEGO, CA: Major League Baseball released a statement Thursday saying that it has completed its investigation of the snafu last Saturday that left the San Diego Gay Men's Chorus standing on the field pre-game while a recorded version of the National Anthem was played.

MLB called the situation "regrettable" and a "product of human error." 

Unfortunately, the statement said, the entertainment supervisor was in a car accident the night before and was not at work. The employees involved in the matter Saturday were performing duties unfamiliar to them, the MLB said, adding that they believe there was no malicious intent to prevent the chorus from singing the "The Star-Spangled Banner" as planned.

The league believes the "Padres' efforts to remedy the situation, including an invitation to the chorus to perform at another game, are appropriate." The league "has every expectation that the Club’s longstanding record of inclusion will be evident in the future," according to the statement.

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Members of the chorus had been scheduled to sing the National Anthem in a ceremony prior to the start of Padres-Dodgers game Saturday at Petco Park. Instead, as a recorded version of a woman singing the "The Star-Spangled Banner" was played over their voices, they were subjected to heckling when they left the field, and questions were subsequently raised about the motivation behind the incident.

During its investigation of the incident, MLB said it "received the full cooperation of Padres management, which expressed its deepest apologies," the statement said. 

Baseball executives conducted more than a dozen interviews about the situation, including with the San Diego Gay Men's Chorus. 

In a Facebook statement Wednesday, the chorus said: "We are very encouraged by this morning's constructive and positive meeting with the San Diego Padres, San Diego Gay Men's Chorus and San Diego Pride. We thank the Padres for their dedication to making change happen and know we are forging a revitalized partnership between the LGBT community and the Padres ..."

Art Romero, a deejay who goes by the stage name DJ Artform, was fired after the incident. The chorus called for his reinstatement earlier this week, but the Padres withheld comment on his status until after the MLB investigation.

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Romero told Patch he expected to know something by Friday regarding the possible reinstatement as a contracted employee for the Padres.

But according to a statement Thursday from the Padres, he has already been offered a position with the team.

"The Padres wish to thank Major League Baseball for its work this week, and are pleased that its findings confirm the facts that we discovered during our own internal investigation. As we have done this week, we will continue to work with San Diego's LGBT community to strengthen and expand the club's relationship with them.

"Based on MLB's findings, as well as the support of the San Diego Gay Men's Chorus, DJ Art Romero has accepted our invitation to continue to provide services for the team, in a role to be determined.

"Finally, and most importantly, we appreciate the collaboration we have had this week with the LGBT community, and once again apologize for what took place during the performance of the National Anthem on Saturday night."

This is a developing story. Refresh the pages for updates as information is added. 

— City News Service contributed to this report. 

(Image via U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons)