Man arrested after 12-year-old girl hit with sex toy at WNBA game

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/aug/21/man-arrested-after-12-year-old-girl-hit-with-sex-toy-at-wnba-game

299 points · 89 comments · view on lemmy.world

89 Comments

Zombiepirate@lemmy.world · 141 pts · 353d (9 replies)

Charles Burgess, 32, from Dayton, Ohio, was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly throwing an object at the Dallas Wings v New York Liberty game on 5 August, New York police said. The object hit a 12-year-old girl, and Burgess was charged with two counts of assault. It wasn’t immediately clear whether Burgess had an attorney.

A grown-ass man acting like a teenager doing a senior prank, presumably because he wanted to look cool in front of the other misogynist dipshits who think a woman's value is tied to their sexuality, is peak 2025.

ImADifferentBird@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 35 pts · 353d (4 replies)

Apparently the people who started this whole thing were doing it as a publicity stunt promoting a crypto coin. So if it wasn't already bad enough....

Tempus_Fugit@midwest.social · 20 pts · 353d (3 replies)

I've heard that too, but I refuse to buy it. They're just misogynistic losers looking for their 15 minutes to exploit. It's nice to see consequences though.

breecher@sh.itjust.works · 16 pts · 352d

Both things can be true. In fact it is more than likely that cryptobros are misogynist dipshits.

ImADifferentBird@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 351d (1 reply)

You say that as if those are mutually exclusive categories.

Tempus_Fugit@midwest.social · 2 pts · 351d

You're not wrong.

dditty@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 30 pts · 353d (3 replies)

I hope they throw the book at him as hard as he threw the dildo at that girl 😡

ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net · 9 pts · 353d (1 reply)

So this is what growing up watching youtube does to a generation...

FenrirIII@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 353d

Not sure why the downvotes. Social media, especially YT, platforms these horrible people that actively twisted a generation into complete assholes.

BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 353d
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deegeese@sopuli.xyz · 76 pts · 353d (4 replies)

The NBA should hand out lifetime bans for any ‘fans’ who pull this crap at WNBA games.

Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works · 30 pts · 353d (2 replies)

Or Ticketmaster blacklist them... That would probably be much worse haha

DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 352d (1 reply)

I think this would put an end to it.

BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today · 3 pts · 352d

Absolutely! It would never occur to anyone to have a friend buy the tickets instead.

gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 352d

From all sports and events, not just the NBA/WNBA.

fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com · 60 pts · 353d

The report said the Georgia man told police “this was supposed to be a joke and the joke [was] supposed to go viral.”

It's nice to see many getting charged for doing this, and the articles about those charges being the thing going viral.

nondescripthandle@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 56 pts · 353d (19 replies)

Idk if they stick or not but they should grill him with sexual harassment charges and make an example of him, this behavior needs to stop. No plea deal that drops those charges either.

mikenurre@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 353d (2 replies)

Would be nice. And then national coverage showing that POS as a registered xex offender.

TheTechnician27@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 353d

Worse yet, register them as a Xexex offender.

INHALE_VEGETABLES@aussie.zone · 4 pts · 352d

That guy threw a dildo at a child, but I don't really feel like it's up there with people trying to rape em

I feel like the sex offender list should have teirs for really fucking stupid shit like this, people who get caught urinating in public, having sex in a car... and then people doing the real nasty shit?

theneverfox@pawb.social · 6 pts · 352d (6 replies)

That's definitely the wrong angle. This isn't a sex crime, the existence of dildos doesn't harm children, it just makes adults panic when they have to explain them an age appropriate way. You just have to tell them some people think they're funny, but a lot of people think it's rude. It's that easy

This guy threw a heavy object into a crowd that included children, and hit a child. That's child endangerment, battery, and probably a half dozen other charges. Someone could've died

This is a violent crime, not a sex crime. These are both serious things, but they must not be confused

andros_rex@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 352d (3 replies)

They’re choosing dildos for a reason. It is sexual harassment of the players. It is intending to demean the players. It’s no coincidence this shit started after the Union negotiations - men in Facebook comment sections were absolutely vile at the idea these women wanted to be paid fairly.

theneverfox@pawb.social · 1 pts · 352d (2 replies)

Sure, against the players you can call it sexual harassment. It's sexist harassment at least. I'm not saying it isn't vile. But that's not the crime being prosecuted

Do you really want to lump throwing dildos in public along with raping children?

We're in the Epstein files era. We need a nice, clear, black and white when it comes to sex crimes, especially against children.

andros_rex@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 352d (1 reply)

Harassment does not equal raping children. They are both bad things, and they are both sex crimes. You are straw manning - notice how at no point in my comment did I mention children, not suggest that sexual harassment is equivalent to crimes against children or rape.

Do you also think these actions have no effect on the children watching? What lesson does it teach them - “women’s sport is such a joke that people think it’s funny to throw dildos at players?” How do you think a young girl who plays basketball might feel?

theneverfox@pawb.social · -1 pts · 352d

I'm not straw manning you, I'm not saying you equate these things together. I'm pointing out that we live in a post rule-of-law society.

If you call sex crime over this, it will cheapen the concept of sex crimes. It doesn't matter if it's technically true or not, we're living in very dangerous times

The truth doesn't matter anymore, crisp clear messaging does. You're more likely to get dildos banned than the players protected at this point.

The fact that they're dildos is extra disrespectful, but it's not ok to throw anything in a stadium that could hurt someone

That has to be the message - they hurt a child, this is clearly way out of hand

You can also go after the league for not properly addressing an environment of sexual harassment... But that's a separate issue. The WNBA has been extremely exploitative, you can't fix that by going after the viewers

Texas_Hangover@lemmy.radio · -1 pts · 352d (1 reply)

someone could have died.

How?

theneverfox@pawb.social · 6 pts · 352d

By getting hit by a dildo. That's a solid object (even if it's not hard), it doesn't take much force to kill someone if you hit them just right

So scale it up to hundreds of people throwing them from above, from behind? It's still not likely, but if you keep repeating this it'll happen eventually

Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works · -7 pts · 353d (8 replies)

So what about all the stuff that is shown to the public at Pride parades?

Seems like a slippery slope imo

Edit: I'll be extremely clear, if you cheapen what sexual harassment means, it opens the door for bad actors to use it against things you probably don't want to get labeled sexual harassment.

nondescripthandle@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 11 pts · 353d (3 replies)

Im pretty certain theres a big enough difference between a parade celebrating a sexual identity and a basketball game. Besides they're already criminalizing the LGBT community, it's not like that box hasn't been opened, so the least we can do is prevent children at basketball games from getting hit with sex toys to hype up a scam currency.

CommanderCloon@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 352d

Yes the difference is there. But if you're giving a special significance to the dildo, be prepared for the jurisprudence to be twisted into something you very much don't want.

Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works · -2 pts · 353d (1 reply)

Maybe don't label it sexual harassment is all I'm saying.

Donjuanme@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 352d

Let's not believe every hyperbole we read on the Internet

Bo7a@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 352d (3 replies)

Easy one for ya.

Shown is not the same word as thrown

Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works · 0 pts · 352d (2 replies)

Ah yes that's why if someone flashes you on the street it's not sexual harassment.

Bo7a@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 352d (1 reply)

Thanks for replying and solidifying my user note of 'Pretends to be stupid for fun. Avoid.'

Bye.

Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 352d

I'm literally not you're just refusing to see my point.

Bye 👋

kautau@lemmy.world · 41 pts · 353d (3 replies)

Media reports on the disturbances have tied the toy-throwings to a group involved in a related cryptocurrency meme coin.

There was a time when this would have surprised me. Not anymore

gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world · 22 pts · 353d (2 replies)

Neat, sounds to me like this was a crime for the benefit of a gang and everyone even tangentially involved should have all their assets seized and get imprisoned for things members of their group did whether they were directly involved or not

Boddhisatva@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 353d
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Railing5132@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 353d

Seems like a somewhat valid use for RICO, moreso that what it's usually used for...

RickyRigatoni@retrolemmy.com · 27 pts · 353d (3 replies)

Should women start throwing smallest sized condoms at the mnba?

warbond@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 352d

Lol, MNBA

Duamerthrax@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 352d (1 reply)

Do any of the mnba players endorse the dildo throwing?

RickyRigatoni@retrolemmy.com · 4 pts · 352d

Don't know, don't care. I just think it would be funny.

TheDemonBuer@lemmy.world · 25 pts · 353d (4 replies)

Charles Burgess, 32, from Dayton, Ohio, was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly throwing an object at the Dallas Wings v New York Liberty game on 5 August, New York police said. The object hit a 12-year-old girl

Idiot.

INHALE_VEGETABLES@aussie.zone · -1 pts · 352d (3 replies)

She's 12 and we don't know if she saw it coming towards her, wtf bro?

Duamerthrax@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 352d

I think they're calling Burgess the idiot.

TheDemonBuer@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 352d (1 reply)

funny

INHALE_VEGETABLES@aussie.zone · 1 pts · 349d

😬👍

DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 352d (6 replies)

There should only be legal charges if a heavy object hits someone else, like in this case.

For the rest, lifetime banning from all future major league sports games, basketball, football, baseball, etc. would probably be enough to end the stupid trend.

If that doesn't do it, then like someone else mentioned, blacklisted at Ticketmaster would be enough.

I don't think calling the cops is needed unless there's physical abuse.

BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today · 4 pts · 352d (4 replies)

If someone throws a dildo at a basketball game in New York in 2025, how are they going to be banned from a baseball game in California in 2035? Will they somehow be flagged when they try to buy a ticket online? Will they be stopped at the gate when some security guard recognizes them from being banned 10 years ago on the other side of the country? Do we need a new government agency to track professional sports dildo throwers? Or perhaps a Federal Dildo Throwing Registry?

A massive expansion of government oversight is called for here. There should also be a comprehensive investigation into dildos, dongs, and dong-like devices, with a path to prohibition of any long cylindrically shaped items.

postmateDumbass@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 352d (1 reply)

National Association of Dildo Sports (the NADS) will have to provide rules, regulations, and strap on a structure for competition and records.

BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 352d

Obviously, there will be a ring toss event.

frog_brawler@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 352d
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Bane_Killgrind@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 352d

Presumably WNBA has some VMS with facial recognition, they would register the person and flag them for alarm/ notify staff to card them.

SwimmingInTheeStars@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 352d

Or just don’t be an idiot and throw objects in crowded public places?

Lembot_0004@discuss.online · 11 pts · 353d (1 reply)
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flandish@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 353d
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11111one11111@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 353d

They should take it as a huge honor since the last dildo throwing fad was directed at Tom Brady, arguably the greatest athlete to dominate their sport in the history of sports. These dildos must be paying homage to the WNBA greats. /s

hanrahan@slrpnk.net · 6 pts · 352d

Should have just hit her with a car, she ded, he free.

Gates9@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 353d

Dude looks the part. Big time loser energy.

Chewbaccabra@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 352d

When's the give send go campaign?

uhdeuidheuidhed@thelemmy.club · -55 pts · 353d (32 replies)

That's pretty funny, but the title makes it seem like he specifically targeted the girl.

It looks more like he threw it as a prank for the athletes, and it just so happened to hit a young girl.

Red_October@lemmy.world · 45 pts · 353d (1 reply)

No it's pretty obvious that he wasn't targeting the girl, we're not saying he should be charged with various flavors of battery and sexual assault because we thought he meant it to hit her. And calling it just "a prank for the athletes" can fuck all the way off.

uhdeuidheuidhed@thelemmy.club · -18 pts · 353d
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FancyPantsFIRE@lemmy.world · 29 pts · 353d (5 replies)

I know, right? It’s just like when people bring fleshlights to throw at NBA games because it’s a totally normal and not weird thing to do.

uhdeuidheuidhed@thelemmy.club · -12 pts · 353d (4 replies)

It'd be hilarious if people responded by doing that.

mrslt@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 353d (2 replies)

If you're 10 years old, sure. Peak comedy.

uhdeuidheuidhed@thelemmy.club · -11 pts · 353d (1 reply)

Humor is subjective.

I'm sure you'd laugh at a lot of things that I'd consider childish and not funny.

zbyte64@awful.systems · 8 pts · 352d

Comedy is open to interpretation, but how you interpret it still says a lot about who you are.

Batman@sopuli.xyz · 4 pts · 353d

It would probably put an end to the shenanigans quicker. Society seems to respond to shit when it starts to affect men (especially, rich) too, a little more promptly.

Zombiepirate@lemmy.world · 24 pts · 353d

It doesn't make it sound like he targeted the girl, it sounds like he was another idiot who thought he was the main character and wanted to mock women athletes.

prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 20 pts · 353d (4 replies)

Why is it funny? Because they do it exclusively at women's sporting events?

I'm really curious to hear from people who think this is funny to find out why they think that.

uhdeuidheuidhed@thelemmy.club · -17 pts · 353d (3 replies)

Because dildos are funny and interrupting sporting events is hilarious.

I don't care if it's a women's or men's event.

prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 19 pts · 353d (2 replies)

Well, that's the joke. They're doing it exclusively to women athletes, so you're saying you think that's funny.

uhdeuidheuidhed@thelemmy.club · -17 pts · 353d (1 reply)

🥱

Arguing with you people is exhausting.

Keep believing whatever you want.

prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 352d

I literally just want to know what's funny about it?

thedruid@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 353d (15 replies)

He threw it to be an asshole. Pranks make everyone laugh.

uhdeuidheuidhed@thelemmy.club · -20 pts · 353d (14 replies)

Pranks make everyone laugh.

That's most certainly not true.

thedruid@lemmy.world · 23 pts · 353d (13 replies)

Then it's not a prank. It's Being an assshole

Only reason people say otherwise is self appeasement or bad parents.

uhdeuidheuidhed@thelemmy.club · -18 pts · 353d (12 replies)

Not really, but believe whatever you want.

"Everyone laughing" is an unreachable metric.

thedruid@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 353d (11 replies)

No. I believe in facts. Fact is some one being an asshole, is an asshole, no matter what term you'd give them to hide under.

So. Again. He was being an asshole, not playing a prank.

uhdeuidheuidhed@thelemmy.club · -12 pts · 353d (10 replies)

Ok, buddy.

There's not a single prank that everyone will laugh at, but keep believing what you want.

Sorry, just to drive the point further home: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Practical_joke

No mention of laughter even being a factor. You can edit the article if you'd like to change that.

Also, this is a really good fucking prank:

Wikipedia image of a prank with stacks of phonebooks completely blocking a door.

Crazyslinkz@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 353d

Thus most practical jokes are affectionate gestures of humour and designed to encourage laughter.

thedruid@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 353d

So your issue is parentage then.

And if you act cruelly to one person simply so you and perchance another bystander can laugh at them, then I'd say you're just proving the point, and you hang out with shitty people.

cecilkorik@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 353d

Is it? Or maybe you're an asshole too...

Bo7a@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 352d

Are you really this stupid or are you pretending? The point being made is that everyone INVOLVED IN THE PRANK should be laughing for it to be a prank. Try using your fucking head for three seconds.

theneverfox@pawb.social · 10 pts · 353d

throws heavy object into dense crowd of people

I didn't mean to hit anyone, it was just a joke!

But_Class_War@midwest.social · 4 pts · 352d

Except it's not a prank, just shitty marketing stunts. For crypto trash of all things

https://19thnews.org/2025/08/wnba-dildos-meme-coin-misogyny/