Gabriël “Bwipo” Rau of FlyQuest has been suspended by the organization after remarks made regarding women’s periods. As a result of the suspension, Rau cannot participate in LTA North, also known as the League of Legends Tournament of the Americas North. Rau began his statement by commenting on the difference between male and female anatomy on a recent stream.
He said,
“A lot of people, even men that play this game, just tilt out of their f**king minds when they play League of Legends. When a woman is on the wrong part of the month and playing competitively… there is a time of the month when you should not be f**king playing competitively as a woman, in my opinion. This is my experience… I’ve lived with one.”
League of Legends Community Reactions
Several players commented that Rau’s takes were “dangerous,” “dumb,” and “ignorant.” According to The Gamer, one player refused to fist-bump Rau at the LTA North finals. Veteran LoL host and interviewer Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere said that the comments made were “ignorant” and described them as “dangerous rhetoric.”
LTA North caster Isaac “Azael” Cummings-Bentley tweeted that the comments made were “as dumb and dangerous of a take as I’ve seen in a while” and encouraged people to “stop these dangerous generalisations against a group of people already struggling to get opportunities in a space dominated by men.”
FlyQuest, Rau’s sponsor, plans to donate his prize winnings to charities supporting women in gaming. They tweeted, “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. That’s why we’re so proud of the RED program and our work to elevate diverse and underserved communities across gaming.”
They continued, “Comments that might discourage even one young woman from pursuing her dream of becoming a pro player harm the future of esports, and we take that very seriously. While our first impulse is to educate when clearly ignorant comments like this are made, accountability is also a core value of our organization.”
My Thoughts
While some people believe that the punishment Bwipo received was too harsh, I think it’s appropriate. Women in gaming and outside gaming do so much while on their periods. Some women even go through issues such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, also known as PCOS, or Endometriosis, and still get things done.
A professional player saying that women can’t play games while menstruating sets a bad example for any children or vulnerable individuals looking up to them. Forget biology or researching for clarification. People will believe anyone with a large enough platform. That’s why Bwipo’s statements are bad.
Additionally, women in gaming already go through sexual harassment, sexual assault, and plain bullying. Women in gaming work twice as hard to get half the recognition men receive. Those with platforms should do better.
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