Activision Blizzard, a writer underneath a authorities investigation revolving round sexual harassment on the firm, allegedly stopped a Name of Obligation persona from main her personal group inside a event held by her personal group. The explanation? She’s claiming that the writer was uncomfortable along with her “oversexual tweets.”
Kalei Renay is a member of FaZe Clan, a preferred gaming influencer group identified for its numerous eSports groups. Over the course of the yr final yr alone, her viewership elevated by a whopping 200 percent, an increase that pairs properly with the respect of successful the GameHers award for high esports streamer of the yr on Twitch. And not too long ago, she tweeted out:
“Wasn’t allowed to get a captain spot in our personal faze tourney because of activision actually not liking my **oversexual tweets**,” Renay wrote in a since-deleted tweet final evening. “But … the identical firm has a pfp of a creators [sic] ass cheek as their avi on an organization twitter.”
The tweets accusing Activision of someway intervening and disallowing aren’t particular, and Renay didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Our greatest educated guess tells us it’s probably December’s Pacific Pursuit. Hosted by Faze Clan and ATL FaZe (FaZe’s Name of Obligation group), the occasion featured the highest 20 groups out of qualifiers competing for a prize pool of $100,000. However no matter what particular event it was, given Renay’s accomplishments and simple talent on the recreation, you’d assume she’d be an excellent match for main a group—particularly if her personal group is internet hosting the occasion.
However since cash is concerned, and FaZe is a legit group, it’s probably that they should play by the e-book. Meaning having Activision log out on issues. Activision’s official code of conduct for gamers is rife with legalese that successfully offers the writer all the ability, demanding, amongst different obscure necessities, that gamers meet “the very best requirements of non-public integrity and good sportsmanship … as decided by administration.” In different phrases, the contents of a participant’s social media may, certainly, affect your standing with the corporate.
Renay does veer into PG-13 or R-rated territory infrequently. Take a look at her social media feeds and also you’ll see all the pieces from the occasional lewd phrase to, in a single case, a photograph of what seems to be a human-sized intercourse toy. Then again, you might have an expert recreation studio actually posting ass.
That’s the problem for Renay: hypocrisy. The Twitter web page she refers to belongs to Raven Software program. Sure, the exact same that is organizing to form the first union among Activision Blizzard studios, someway. In response to now-changed profile footage immortalized in screenshots, the Twitter account on Thursday evening sported an avatar of a really recent ass tattoo belonging to FaZe Clan group member Kris “Swagg” Lamberson.
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In January, Lamberson publicly stated he’d get an ink of Raven Software program on his “proper cheek” if the studio reverted an replace about loadouts. The studio did, and Lamberson caught to his phrase. The official Name of Obligation Twitter account retweeted the photo (warning: PG-13). And final evening, Raven’s official Twitter web page seems to have briefly listed Lamberson’s tattoo as its profile image. (Screencap seen here, courtesy of esports commentator Jake Fortunate.) The picture has since reverted to key artwork of the studio’s emblem. The whole charade raises questions on double-standards, about what males can get away with posting on social media that girls can not.
“This has nothing to do with FaZe (it was solely a tourney and Acti truly accepts and denies captains),” Renay wrote. In follow-up tweets, she affirmed the help she’s obtained from FaZe, and clarified that she bears no in poor health will towards Lamberson.
“Kalei is unapologetically herself and we love that about her,” a consultant for FaZe Clan informed Kotaku in a press release. “Her tweets are sometimes deemed inappropriate by others, however clearly by her being a member of FaZe, we help her and would by no means hold her from doing something that any of our different members are in a position to do.”
Activision Blizzard declined to remark.
