Cubs say they’ve fired person who made ‘irresponsible music selection’ after Aroldis Chapman pitched

There’s a song by electronic dance group The Prodigy that uses a phrase as its title and key lyrics so offensive that it has no business being played somewhere like a major league ballpark.

That song, “Smack My … Up” — which seems to refer to violence toward women — somehow got played over the PA system at Wrigley Field on Sunday.

Again, that would be a horrible selection under any circumstances, but this was many times worse because the song was played as Chicago Cubs reliever Aroldis Chapman was leaving the field.

Chapman served a 29-game suspension earlier this year under the league’s domestic violence policy.

The Cubs moved to distance themselves from the song selection, issuing an apology on Monday and firing the person responsible for the choice.

“We apologize for the irresponsible music selection during our game last night,” President of Baseball Operations Crane Kenney said in a statement. “The selection of this track showed a lack of judgment and sensitivity to an important issue. We have terminated our relationship with the employee responsible for making the selection and will be implementing stronger controls to review and approve music before public broadcast during our games.”

Earlier this year, Chapman was accused of choking his girlfriend during a dispute at their Florida home and firing eight shots from a gun in the garage. After investigating the incident, authorities declined to file charges, citing conflicting and insufficient evidence, according to reports.

The Times’ Bill Shaikin contributed to this report.

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