Shannon Kobylarczyk: LinkedIn Profile, ICE Comment Controversy & Job Loss
In October 2025, Shannon Kobylarczyk became the center of a viral controversy after a video captured her telling a Latino Dodgers fan at a Milwaukee Brewers game, “Let’s call ICE.” The fallout was swift: she resigned from a nonprofit board and was terminated from her employer. This article examines her LinkedIn presence, the ICE comment incident, the reasons behind her job loss, and the broader lessons in how professional conduct and social media intersect in the 21st century.
Who Is Shannon Kobylarczyk?
Public information about Shannon Kobylarczyk is limited beyond what has emerged following the controversy. What is known:
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She was identified in media reports as an attorney affiliated with ManpowerGroup, a staffing and workforce solutions company.
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She also served on the board of Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization, and resigned from that position after the incident became public.
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Her LinkedIn presence was reportedly scrubbed or removed after the incident. Some observers noted her LinkedIn account “is already deleted.”
Given the sudden prominence of her name, many are now seeking traces of her professional background online, with LinkedIn as a primary resource. But as of now, no verifiable LinkedIn profile remains publicly accessible.
The Controversial ICE Comment: What Happened?
The Game Setting
On October 14, 2025, during Game 2 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) at American Family Field in Milwaukee, a confrontation occurred between fans of opposing teams. The Milwaukee Brewers were hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers.
A Dodgers fan, Ricardo Fosado, who is a Latino U.S. Navy veteran, was recorded celebrating his team’s success among Brewers fans. As tensions rose, a video showed a co-spectator shout at him, “Let’s call ICE,” apparently referencing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement—a phrase invoking immigration status and, in effect, a threat.
Fosado responded by confirming his citizenship and military service, rejecting any implication of undocumented status.
Identification and Fallout
Soon after the video circulated, media pointed to Shannon Kobylarczyk as the person who made the “call ICE” comment.
The consequences were rapid:
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Make-A-Wish Wisconsin confirmed she resigned from its board effective immediately.
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ManpowerGroup, her alleged employer, stated that upon learning of the video, they placed her on leave, conducted an internal investigation, and subsequently terminated her employment.
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News outlets reported that she “is no longer with the organization.”
One Fox6 News report puts it this way:
“As soon as we became aware of this video the individual was placed on immediate leave … as a result … is no longer with the organization.”
Thus, within hours to a day of the viral video, she faced both public and professional consequences.
Why Did She Lose Her Job?
The firing of Shannon Kobylarczyk can be traced to a combination of public pressure, corporate policies, and reputational risk. Here are the key factors:
1. Public Accountability and Viral Exposure
In today’s digital era, no action in public is fully private. The video went viral quickly, and media outlets picked it up, amplifying scrutiny. The public outcry around discriminatory, xenophobic, or racially charged comments can push organizations to act swiftly. Shannon’s comment wasn’t a subtle misstep—it was a provocative, highly charged statement invoking immigration enforcement. That alone makes it newsworthy and dangerous for a corporate reputation.
2. Violation of Company Policies and Values
Many companies maintain codes of conduct, equal-opportunity policies, anti-discrimination policies, and integrity clauses in employee agreements. A high-profile public comment about ICE directed at a Latino individual can be construed as discriminatory behavior, which likely violates workplace ethics, diversity and inclusion guidelines, and reputational standards. The firm’s statement referenced “a culture grounded in respect, integrity, and accountability.”
Once internal HR or legal teams review the complaint, the existence of a video is hard evidence. From a risk management perspective, retaining her could pose legal, reputational, or stakeholder backlash risks.
3. Board and Nonprofit Association Risk
Her role on the Make-A-Wish Wisconsin board made her partially a public representative of that organization. When one’s personal behavior becomes a public controversy, nonprofits and boards often distance themselves to protect their mission, donors, and image. She resigned from that board immediately.
4. Employer Risk Management and Precedent Setting
For ManpowerGroup, a prominent workforce solutions firm, allowing a high-ranking employee (or attorney) to remain when implicated in a widely condemned statement sets a precedent. It could embolden internal dissent, invite external criticism, or damage trust with clients and partners. Termination, though severe, sends a signal that the employer enforces standards consistently, even under scrutiny.
5. Legal and Regulatory Considerations
Depending on jurisdiction, discriminatory remarks—even outside the workplace—can expose employers to legal liability if it’s shown that the employee’s actions correlate with workplace duties or negatively reflect the brand. While the ICE comment happened at a sports event, not within her workplace, the correlation between public identity and employer brand makes it a sensitive matter. Though I did not find a public record of lawsuit or formal discrimination claim against her employer, the risk alone often compels companies to act.
LinkedIn, Online Existence & Reputation Management
One of the first things observers noticed was the sudden vanishing of Shannon’s LinkedIn profile. Reports on forums and social media suggested that her LinkedIn was “already deleted.”
For professionals, LinkedIn is an essential platform for reputation, networking, and credibility. When someone becomes embroiled in controversy, erasing or limiting one’s digital footprint is sometimes attempted—but it rarely succeeds fully, especially when news outlets have archived content and social media posts beget caches and screenshots.
In this landscape:
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Digital footprints persist. Even if she removed or deactivated her LinkedIn, archives, caches, media captures, and snapshots often preserve data.
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Damage control is time-critical. In crisis PR, initial response, apology (if warranted), and clarification often determine whether reputational damage can be mitigated.
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Silence can be damaging. If she issues no public statement, rumors and worst-case assumptions fill the vacuum.
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Professional network fallout. Colleagues, clients, recruiters, and former contacts will likely sever ties or distance themselves.
Broader Implications: Conduct, Sports, and Accountability
The Shannon Kobylarczyk case illustrates several broader themes that are relevant to professionals, organizations, and society at large.
Sports Arenas as Public Forums
Stadiums and sports events often bring out spirited rivalries and emotional displays. But when comments cross the line into personal attacks or discriminatory language, they risk shifting from the realm of banter into harassment or hate speech.
This incident reminds us that sports spaces aren’t exempt from social norms—fans are still public actors, and their words can have consequences beyond the arena.
The Intersection of Identity, Race & Immigration
The “call ICE” comment is innately tied to immigration status and racial identity. For many Latino individuals, ICE is associated with prosecutorial action, detention, deportation—hostile or traumatic outcomes. Using that phrase as an insult weaponizes fear, alienation, and marginalization. Public sensitivity to that is high, and society increasingly expects accountability for such remarks.
Employer Responsibility in the Social Media Age
Companies today must contend not just with workplace performance, but also with employees’ public personas. Human resources, legal, and communications divisions collectively monitor for reputational risk. The Shannon case underscores that employee conduct outside the office can have in-office consequences.
Accountability vs. Cancel Culture
Detractors might argue this is a “cancel culture” overreach. Supporters stress that accountability must carry real consequences. Fundamentally, when someone works in a profession that values ethics and public trust (like law, human resources, public service, etc.), societal norms may demand higher standards for behavior—even off duty.
Lessons & Takeaways for Professionals
From Shannon’s case, professionals can glean several actionable lessons:
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Think before speaking. In public spaces or online, comments—especially provocative or targeting specific identities—can escalate far beyond intended audiences.
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Assume you are always “on stage.” In the age of smartphones and social media, any moment can be recorded and broadcast.
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Maintain alignment with employer values. If your public behavior contradicts your company or organization’s stated values, you risk conflict.
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Reputation recovery is complex. Once your name is tied to controversy, restoring trust requires consistent, transparent action over time.
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Digital presence matters. Removing or deleting profiles rarely erases all traces. Better to manage and moderate than to vanish.
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Nonprofit roles carry additional scrutiny. Serving on boards or in public-facing roles means your personal conduct reflects on the mission.
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Rapid response is essential. In a crisis, timely acknowledgment and communication can make or break how much damage accrues.
Conclusion
The story of Shannon Kobylarczyk illustrates how a few ill-judged words in a public setting can trigger rapid professional consequences. Her “Let’s call ICE” comment, captured on video, led not only to resignations from a nonprofit board but also to termination from her employer. In the digital age, no professional is immune to the intersection of personal conduct, public scrutiny, and organizational standards.
While some debate the boundaries of free speech, the key takeaway is clear: professionals must exercise discretion even in casual or emotionally charged environments. A single moment can alter a career and reputation. For Shannon, the consequences were swift and decisive, reminding us all that in the 21st century, words matter—even in the stands.
