In a significant move within the esports community, FlyQuest, a prominent North American League of Legends team, has placed its top laner, Gabriel ‘Bwipo’ Rau, on suspension. This decision follows remarks made by Bwipo during a recent livestream, which he later acknowledged as “ignorant and disrespectful to women.” As a result, he will be absent from the team’s pivotal LTA Regional Finals match against Vivo Keyd Stars.
Background on Bwipo and FlyQuest
Bwipo has long been a fixture in the League of Legends esports landscape, having previously showcased his skills with European powerhouse Fnatic and North America’s Team Liquid. Currently representing FlyQuest, the team has demonstrated impressive performance this year, clinching victories in both Split 2 and Split 3 of the LTA North division. However, as they prepare for their first series in the Regional Finals, they will do so without their seasoned top laner.
During a livestream on September 9, Bwipo sparked controversy while discussing the impact of menstrual cycles on women’s performance in competitive gaming. He stated, “A lot of people, even men, that play this game just tilt out of their fucking minds when they’re playing League of Legends. So when a woman is on the wrong part of the month to play competitively – there’s a time of the month where you should not be fucking playing competitive games as a woman, in my opinion.”
FlyQuest’s Response and Bwipo’s Apology
In response to the incident, FlyQuest issued a statement confirming Bwipo’s suspension for the upcoming series. The organization emphasized that his comments were contrary to their core values, stating, “Every day, we try to make the gaming space better, and that includes helping anyone with a passion for competition reach the highest possible levels of play.” Additionally, they announced that Bwipo’s prize money from the event would be donated to initiatives supporting women in gaming.
Following the backlash, Bwipo took to social media to express remorse. “Hi everyone, I know I fucked up,” he admitted. “My comments were ignorant and disrespectful to women, including those close to me. I’m sorry to those I hurt. I regret using my platform to fuel vitriol and sexism instead of support, and I’ll be taking steps to reflect, listen, and do better.”
Community Reactions
The comments have not gone unnoticed, attracting criticism from notable figures in the League of Legends esports community. Presenter Eefje ‘Sjokz’ Depoortere labeled Bwipo’s remarks a “crazy take” in a TikTok video, describing them as “dangerous rhetoric” in another post on X. Meanwhile, LoL esports caster Isaac ‘Azael’ Cummings-Bentley remarked, “Women being unable to play games [competitively] due to their periods is as dumb and dangerous of a take as I’ve seen in a while.”
@eefjeuh♬ original sound – eefjeuh
Looking ahead, the phrasing of FlyQuest’s statement suggests that Bwipo may return to competitive play in the subsequent round of the LTA Regional Finals. Should FlyQuest secure a victory against Vivo Keyd Stars, they will advance to the grand final of the event, marking a critical juncture in their season.
“I f****d up,” admits League of Legends pro suspended for sexist comments
In a significant move within the esports community, FlyQuest, a prominent North American League of Legends team, has placed its top laner, Gabriel ‘Bwipo’ Rau, on suspension. This decision follows remarks made by Bwipo during a recent livestream, which he later acknowledged as “ignorant and disrespectful to women.” As a result, he will be absent from the team’s pivotal LTA Regional Finals match against Vivo Keyd Stars.
Background on Bwipo and FlyQuest
Bwipo has long been a fixture in the League of Legends esports landscape, having previously showcased his skills with European powerhouse Fnatic and North America’s Team Liquid. Currently representing FlyQuest, the team has demonstrated impressive performance this year, clinching victories in both Split 2 and Split 3 of the LTA North division. However, as they prepare for their first series in the Regional Finals, they will do so without their seasoned top laner.
During a livestream on September 9, Bwipo sparked controversy while discussing the impact of menstrual cycles on women’s performance in competitive gaming. He stated, “A lot of people, even men, that play this game just tilt out of their fucking minds when they’re playing League of Legends. So when a woman is on the wrong part of the month to play competitively – there’s a time of the month where you should not be fucking playing competitive games as a woman, in my opinion.”
FlyQuest’s Response and Bwipo’s Apology
In response to the incident, FlyQuest issued a statement confirming Bwipo’s suspension for the upcoming series. The organization emphasized that his comments were contrary to their core values, stating, “Every day, we try to make the gaming space better, and that includes helping anyone with a passion for competition reach the highest possible levels of play.” Additionally, they announced that Bwipo’s prize money from the event would be donated to initiatives supporting women in gaming.
Following the backlash, Bwipo took to social media to express remorse. “Hi everyone, I know I fucked up,” he admitted. “My comments were ignorant and disrespectful to women, including those close to me. I’m sorry to those I hurt. I regret using my platform to fuel vitriol and sexism instead of support, and I’ll be taking steps to reflect, listen, and do better.”
Community Reactions
The comments have not gone unnoticed, attracting criticism from notable figures in the League of Legends esports community. Presenter Eefje ‘Sjokz’ Depoortere labeled Bwipo’s remarks a “crazy take” in a TikTok video, describing them as “dangerous rhetoric” in another post on X. Meanwhile, LoL esports caster Isaac ‘Azael’ Cummings-Bentley remarked, “Women being unable to play games [competitively] due to their periods is as dumb and dangerous of a take as I’ve seen in a while.”
Looking ahead, the phrasing of FlyQuest’s statement suggests that Bwipo may return to competitive play in the subsequent round of the LTA Regional Finals. Should FlyQuest secure a victory against Vivo Keyd Stars, they will advance to the grand final of the event, marking a critical juncture in their season.