A political ad from Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner criticizing the ownership of the Boston Red Sox was abruptly pulled by the network that broadcasts the team’s games, adding another layer of controversy to the increasingly combative Senate race.
The 15-second campaign spot targeted Fenway Sports Group, the ownership conglomerate behind the Red Sox, accusing the company of prioritizing corporate interests over the fans who helped make the franchise one of baseball’s most iconic brands.
Platner’s ad used lettering styled in the same color and font associated with the Red Sox logo, a move that appears to have triggered concerns from New England Sports Network, commonly known as NESN. The network is owned by Fenway Sports Group, which is run by businessman John W. Henry and also owns the Pittsburgh Penguins and Liverpool F.C..
In the advertisement, Platner blamed what he called “private equity” for harming both professional sports and everyday American life. The ad centered heavily around lingering frustration among Red Sox fans over the team’s decision to trade superstar Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020.
“Private equity has destroyed our favorite baseball team, stripping them for parts,” Platner says in the ad. “Private equity is buying up our homes, our sports, and our lives. I will reverse the private equity curse. I’m Graham Platner and I approved this message because I miss Mookie Betts.”
The spot reportedly began airing during Saturday’s Red Sox game before disappearing midway through the broadcast. Platner quickly took to social media to accuse the network of suppressing the message.
“Yesterday we started running this ad during the Red Sox game,” Platner posted online. “Midway through the game the ad was taken down by the station.”
NESN later confirmed to The New York Times that it had removed the advertisement from the broadcast. In a statement, the network said the issue centered on alleged misuse of intellectual property.
“NESN removes advertisements when credible concerns arise regarding the use of intellectual property,” the network said. “The advertisement in question was removed because the creative included unauthorized use of third-party intellectual property and did not comply with NESN’s advertising standards.”
The network did not elaborate further or specify exactly which element of the ad violated its standards.
The dispute arrives amid growing frustration among some Red Sox fans over the direction of the franchise under Fenway Sports Group ownership. Since purchasing the team in 2001, Henry’s ownership group has overseen one of the most successful periods in modern baseball, with the Red Sox winning four World Series championships — more than any other Major League Baseball team during that span.
Still, criticism has mounted in recent years following several unpopular roster decisions. Fans have continued to voice frustration over the trade of Betts as well as the departure of third baseman and first baseman Rafael Devers in 2025. Ownership has also faced criticism for what some supporters view as insufficient spending in free agency to strengthen the club’s offense.
The Red Sox currently sit in last place in the American League East, intensifying scrutiny surrounding management decisions and adding fuel to fan dissatisfaction that political candidates like Platner are increasingly willing to tap into.
The controversy also reflects the growing overlap between politics, sports, and corporate influence, where disputes once confined to front offices and fan radio shows are now becoming campaign material in high-profile elections. As frustration grows over the role large investment groups play in American institutions — from housing to sports franchises — candidates on both sides of the political aisle appear eager to channel that public anger into broader debates about corporate power and accountability.
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