What did Heather McMahan say? Comedian speaks out following backlash over Rory McIlroy Ryder Cup chant

According to The Guardian, Heather McMahan was brought in to build atmosphere, at the Ryder Cup. The tournament pits the best golfers from the U.S. and Europe against each other in a battle for international bragging rights. However the comedian was filmed leading a chant that targeted Rory McIlroy in foul language on the first tee. Her attempt to start a chorus of “Scottie! Scottie! Scheffler!” to the tune of Queen’s We Will Rock You was met with boos and quickly abandoned. The crowd instead rallied behind a chant of “F**k you Rory!”

After the incident, Heather McMahan compared her experience at the Ryder Cup to a “Salem witch” trial after drawing criticism for joining in on jeers aimed at Rory McIlroy. The comedian apologized for her actions but questioned why she became the central focus of the backlash in the comment section of influencer Pamela Wurst Vetrini's TikTok video. Heather McMahan explained that she had not initiated the controversial chants but admitted she regretted responding to the crowd.

“It’s [sic] was a really tough scene. I did not start the chant, but I deeply regret responding back to the crowd, I apologized but I agree it [was a] little Salem-witch-esque blaming me for the New York sports scene,” she explained.

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Heather McMahan apologized to Rory McIlroy after Ryder Cup chant controversy

Comedian Heather McMahan issued an apology after she was criticized for expletive-laden remarks directed at Rory McIlroy during the Ryder Cup. A PGA of America spokesperson told BBC Sport on Sunday, September 28, that she had apologized to both the player and Ryder Cup Europe.

“[She] has stepped down from hosting the first tee of the Ryder Cup,” added the spokesperson.

McMahan had previously spoken favorably of Rory McIlroy in a Thursday interview with “The Smylie Show,” noting her respect for the golfer despite supporting the American side.

As the Guardian reported, Rory McIlroy endured repeated verbal abuse from spectators throughout the Ryder Cup. Frustrated by shouts during his backswing, he told fans to “shut the f**k up” at one point. Despite the hostile atmosphere, which he later described as “very, very challenging," McIlroy managed to win both of his matches.

“I don’t mind them having a go at us, like that’s to be expected. I mean, that’s what an away Ryder Cup is. Whenever they are still doing it while you are over the ball and trying to hit your shot, that’s the tough thing. You know, look, in between shots, say whatever you want to me. That’s totally fine. But just give us the respect to let us hit shots,” he explained.

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Heather McMahan receives support over Ryder Cup backlash

Heather McMahan supporters also echoed her “Salem witch” sentiment. On Sunday, September 28, influencer Pamela Wurst Vetrini shared a TikTok in which she challenged the idea that McMahan was solely at fault.

“Let me get this straight, thousands of men behaved poorly. They were screaming expletives; they were throwing things at women. The U.S. played poorly. The whole U.S. team performed poorly. And all of it is because of one female comedian,” she said.

Pamela Wurst Vetrini argued that Heather McMahan had been hired to energize the crowd and responded to the atmosphere she encountered.

“She read the room. She read the energy of the crowd and she played into their energy,” she explained.

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Heather McMahan discusses her first stand-up special and personal experiences

Heather McMahan spent years pursuing acting and comedy in Hollywood before stepping back after her father’s sudden death from pancreatic cancer in 2015. Back home in Atlanta, she began sharing witty takes on everyday life, funny anecdotes, and pop culture commentary on Instagram.

Her humor resonated quickly, particularly with millennial women who saw in McMahan a sharp, over-the-top best friend type. She built a brand around mining her own experiences, like her fertility struggles and IVF treatments. In an October 17, 2023 interview with Glamour, McMahan discussed her first comedy special, Son I Never Had!

“I talk about everything from infertility to when I was on edibles to what it was like to be a chubby kid, at the end of the day, the joke’s always on me, and I think that’s really relatable,” she shared.

She went on to describe her comedic voice as both joyful and grounded in shared experiences.

“So many people reached out to me and said, ‘This is unbelievably relatable. Nobody’s really talked about this publicly before.’ I was like, I can’t believe that I had to go through it the way I did; this is unhinged. I can’t believe that more people aren’t talking about this,” she explained.