Leyan was found to have humped a stuffed bear during a live stream, which Riot Games deemed to be ‘morally controversial behavior.’ The suspension means that Leyan will not be able to play in two of Invictus Gaming’s upcoming best-of-three match-ups in the Summer Split tournament.
In a statement, Invictus Gaming said that Leyan had made ‘inappropriate words and deeds’ during the live broadcast, which had caused ‘widespread discussion on the internet and caused adverse effects.’ The team said that it had ‘educated and criticized’ Leyan and had deducted two months’ salary from him.
Leyan has since apologized for his behavior, saying that it was ‘not what everyone thinks’ and that he ‘just thought the bear was cute.’ However, he has also been criticized by some for making a bet with someone during the same stream that he would vape on stage if he lost a match, which is also against Riot Games’ rules.
The incident has sparked a debate about the role of Riot Games in regulating the behavior of professional players. Some have argued that the company is being too strict, while others have said that it is right to take action against players who engage in inappropriate behavior. It remains to be seen whether Riot Games will take any further action against Leyan or Invictus Gaming.
