Lina Hidalgo’s Statement on the Incident
“This is not about a wristband or a ticket or a concert. It is about the mentality of some people and the way they treat others,” stated Lina Hidalgo following her removal from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo concert on March 10.
Hidalgo was escorted out during the sold-out performance by Megan Moroney after attempting to access the dirt area without a valid chute seat ticket, which costs $425. She claimed that she was physically pushed and threatened with arrest by rodeo security staff.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo confirmed that access to the dirt area is restricted to those holding chute seat tickets. Hidalgo’s guests included the parents of a deceased Air Force veteran, which added a personal dimension to her attendance.
In a previous instance, Hidalgo had been allowed onto the dirt without a wristband due to her position as the ex officio director of the rodeo, which has raised questions about the consistency of enforcement of access rules.
Hidalgo’s team had also requested and received nearly $9,000 worth of floor access tickets for earlier nights of the event. This context has led to discussions about her treatment during the incident.
Following the altercation, Hidalgo took to social media to share video and audio recordings of the incident, further amplifying her claims of mistreatment. She suggested that the treatment she received had political and gender connotations, stating, “If it had been a different county executive, a man, I would bet that no one would have been pushed.”
In response to the incident, the Houston Police Officers’ Union posted a satirical cartoon related to the event, which has drawn mixed reactions from the public.
Despite the controversy, rodeo officials have denied any knowledge of a physical altercation, leaving some details of the incident unconfirmed.
The incident has sparked wider discussions about the treatment of women in positions of power and the dynamics of public events, particularly in a high-profile setting such as the Houston Rodeo.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how Hidalgo and the rodeo organizers will address the fallout from this incident.
