Major Blow to Key Team Strategy

North American League of Legends team FlyQuest has suspended their top laner Gabriel 'Bwipo' Rau from competition. The Belgian player came under fire for making sexist remarks about women during a broadcast on September 9th.

The disciplinary action will force Bwipo to miss a crucial match against Vivo Keyd Stars in the LTA Regional Finals. Having won both Split 2 and Split 3 in this year's LTA North division, FlyQuest has demonstrated formidable strength, making the absence of this core player a significant burden for the team.

The Controversial Statement

During his stream, Bwipo expressed the opinion that women may find it difficult to play competitive games during certain phases of their menstrual cycle. After stating that "many people, even men, get emotionally affected while playing League of Legends," he continued by saying, "I think for women, they shouldn't play competitive games during certain times of their menstrual cycle."

In an official statement, FlyQuest declared: "Bwipo's sexist remarks are the complete opposite of FlyQuest's core values. We work every day to make gaming spaces better, and this includes helping everyone passionate about competition reach the highest levels of play." The team added that they would donate Bwipo's tournament prize money to organizations supporting female gamers.

Player's Apology and Community Response

Bwipo promptly issued an apology. "I know I was wrong. My comments were ignorant and disrespectful to women, especially the women around me. I'm sorry to those I hurt. I regret using my platform to fuel hate and sexism instead of support, and I will reflect, listen, and take steps to do better."

Key figures in the League of Legends esports community strongly criticized the remarks. Host Eefje 'Sjokz' Depoortere called it an "insane claim" in a TikTok video and labeled it "dangerous rhetoric" on X (formerly Twitter).

LoL esports caster Isaac 'Azael' Cummings-Bentley stated, "The claim that women can't compete in gaming because of their periods is the most idiotic and dangerous take I've seen."

Gender Equality Challenges in Esports

Bwipo is a veteran player with extensive experience competing at the highest levels in Europe and North America, having played for Fnatic and Team Liquid. This incident once again demonstrates the impact that major players' statements can have on the esports industry as a whole.

Based on FlyQuest's statement, Bwipo appears likely to return from the next round. If the team defeats Vivo Keyd Stars, their next match will be the tournament finals. However, it remains to be seen how the first match without this core player will affect the team's championship run.

This incident highlights that the esports industry still needs to improve awareness regarding gender equality. Given the significant influence players' statements have on young fans, there is increasing emphasis on professional players making responsible comments.