Jessica Pegula Strongly Defends Connor Bedard After Chicago Blackhawks Star’s Controversial ‘Autograph’ Incident
Connor Bedard has become one of hockey’s brightest young stars, but a recent moment off the ice sparked debate about how players should handle autograph requests in public. During a viral video showing the Chicago Blackhawks forward declining signatures before eventually signing, the internet was split on his behavior.
Now, professional tennis player Jessica Pegula is weighing in on the controversy, and she’s strongly on Bedard’s side of the argument.
The Connor Bedard Incident and Jessica Pegula’s Firm Support
The incident happened when Bedard was walking back from dinner near Ball Arena in Denver after a game against the Colorado Avalanche. A group of men approached him, asking for autographs on copies of The Hockey News featuring his image on the cover. In the video, Bedard initially kept walking while the men persisted, but eventually, he stopped and signed two magazines before continuing on his way.
The video quickly went viral on social media, with mixed reactions from fans. Some criticized Bedard for initially refusing, while others defended his right to privacy outside the rink.
Pegula recently discussed the situation during an episode of Players Box, the podcast she co-hosts with Madison Keys, Jennifer Brady, and Desirae Krawczyk. Pegula offered a perspective that sharply differed from the online criticism Bedard faced.
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“The guy was older, and he was obviously selling these autographs,” Pegula said on the podcast. She talked about the criticism he was facing on social media, but went on to defend him by adding personal experiences from tennis.
She added that it was his private time off the rink, saying, “He was walking back from dinner, and the guy was really bugging him. A lot of older people bug the crap out of you for autographs when you know that they’re just going to sell them.”
Keys echoed similar concerns and said she asks fans whether they plan to sell the autographs. Talking about WTA on-tour incidents, she added, “They’ll literally whip out a whole book and it’s like 15 pictures of you and a lot of times I’ll just be like, ‘Are you selling these?’ and I play really dumb and they’re like, ‘No, no of course not I keep them’ and I was like, ‘So you just have like a shrine of all of us all over your house like wallpaper.’”
The 2025 Australian Open Champion continued, “Well, if you do sell them, I feel like since it’s my face, I kind of want to get paid for it. That’s a commission.” Both athletes made it clear that repeated autograph requests from adults carrying multiple items felt different from genuine fan interactions and posed a real concern for them.
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A Similar Story on Tennis Courts
Bedard’s situation isn’t unique in professional sports. Tennis has faced serious fan behavior issues, including Iga Świątek being harassed by an aggressive fan at the Miami Open in March 2025 after they sent her abusive messages online. The Pole received extra security following the incident. Emma Raducanu has also dealt with stalking at professional tournaments, leading to bans for individuals from WTA events.
Off the court, Pegula has focused on her charity work during the off-season. After winning titles at Austin, Charleston, and Bad Homburg in 2025, she hosted the first-ever gala for her nonprofit A Lending Paw, which raised funds for rescue dog organizations. She also partnered with Gorjana on a special Paw Collection, with proceeds supporting her charity. Fellow tennis players, including Kim Clijsters and Donna Vekić, showed support for her philanthropic efforts on social media.
