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Capcom bans Filipino Champ from all events indefinitely after insensitive tweet

Filipino Champ has been handed a further ban by Capcom after tweeting an insensitive joke about Black Lives Matter.
Capcom bans Filipino Champ from all events indefinitely after insensitive tweet

Ryan “Filipino Champ” Ramirez has been issued with an additional ban from an FGC event, only this time it’s all tournaments run by Capcom across the world. 

FChamp is known for being an outspoken voice within the FGC, although a since deleted tweet joking about the Black Lives Matter movement may have gone too far for many within the community. 

After both East Coast Throwdown and Combo Breaker banned him from future events, Capcom has issued a statement banning FChamp from all events connected to the Capcom Pro Tour and Street Fighter League for “violating the player code of conduct”. 

 

“This is a global ban, meaning it applies to tournaments and events in all locations throughout the world,” Capcom’s statement reads. 

FChamp’s original tweet, posted on 13th June, showed a picture of a watermelon with the hashtag #WatermelonLivesMatter - which was branded as insensitive and tone deaf by many players within the community. 

After his initial ban from East Coast Throwdown and Combo Breaker, FChamp penned an apology on Twitter, which read: “Very insensitive tweet by me. 

FChamp watermelon tweet
(Picture: Twitter)

 

“I didn’t mean any harm from it but I promise I’ll be better. Sorry to everyone.”

This isn’t the first ban Capcom have handed out in recent months, with Dalauan “LowTierGod” Sparrow and Christina “CeroBlast” Tran banned back in April after making inflammatory comments.

FChamp previously won EVO 2012 in Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, and earned a Top 8 finish in Street Fighter V at EVO 2017. 

His ban from tournaments however has prompted some to point to the recent incident around Skullgirls developer Mike Zaminot, who recently apologised after making a joke about George Floyd while on stream - and didn't receive any such punishment. 

With Capcom making this statement however, it could possibly spur other tournament organisers to follow suit, including EVO themselves.