The esports community was left reeling this week when FlyQuest's star top laner Bwipo unleashed shockingly sexist remarks during a live stream. Just days before the crucial LTA North finals, the professional League of Legends player suggested women shouldn't compete during menstrual cycles, declaring "there is a time of the month when you should not be f**king playing competitively as a woman." 😤 The timing couldn't have been worse – during Women in Gaming Month – making his archaic biological determinism feel like a targeted assault on female competitors' legitimacy. Hearing such ignorance from a top-tier player in 2025? It genuinely stings. 😔
The Explosive Backlash
Veteran host Sjokz immediately labeled it "dangerous rhetoric," while caster Azael condemned it as "the dumbest take I've seen in years." 🔥 What stings most isn't just the content, but the platform – when pros normalize this garbage, it tells young female gamers their dreams aren't valid. The clip initially surfaced amid Bwipo's petty feud with 100 Thieves' Dhokla (who refused his fist-bump), making the whole drama feel like a toxic masculinity festival. 🤦♀️
FlyQuest's Response: Too Little?
FlyQuest suspended Bwipo for their match against Vivo Key Stars and will donate his prize money to women-in-gaming charities. Their statement hit hard: "Comments discouraging even ONE woman from pursuing esports harm our future." Yet scrolling through Reddit, many fans feel this is performative – they'll easily win with substitute Gakgos, and Bwipo returns for Worlds. Where's the real accountability? Their "education first" approach feels naive when the damage is already done. 💔
Bwipo's Apology: Damage Control?
The belated apology acknowledged he "f**ked up" and hurt women, including "those close to me." But let's be real: how many times must marginalized communities endure "sorry" after systemic disrespect? The hollow regret rings especially tinny when teammates’ Worlds dreams are leveraged as sympathy shields. 😒
| Punishment Supporters | Punishment Critics |
|---|---|
| Donations support women in gaming | Suspension is meaningless against weak opponents |
| Avoids punishing innocent teammates | Lets Bwipo profit from Worlds appearance |
| Sets precedent for accountability | Should’ve mandated sensitivity training |
Personal Reflections
As someone who’s cheered for FlyQuest all season, this cuts deep. How can we celebrate esports’ growth when its stars perpetuate Stone Age stereotypes? 💔 That gnawing hypocrisy – organizations tout diversity while tolerating this – makes you question their commitment. The donation band-aid can’t heal the wound Bwipo ripped open for every woman grinding solo queue, wondering if the scene will ever respect them.
Will esports ever move beyond token gestures to genuine cultural change? Or are we doomed to replay these controversies every time a privileged player reveals their ignorance? 🤔