Esports just saw a prominent player sidelined for comments that truly missed the mark. On Tuesday evening, September 9, FlyQuest, a well-known League of Legends (LoL) team, announced a suspension. Their player, Gabriël “Bwipo” Rau, was pulled from an upcoming competition. This decision came after some sexist remarks he made during a livestream.
Bwipo, a professional player, stated his belief that women should not play competitive games during their menstrual cycle. A clip of these comments quickly spread across the global LoL community on the same day, September 9. The team acted fast, suspending him from the next match due to these statements.
bwipo falando que mulher não deveria jogar competitivo por causa do período menstrual :). tem que rir. e ainda tem quem defenda. https://t.co/piey8ecAtO pic.twitter.com/vbYGuirDDy
— ً★ (@ccxrlota) September 9, 2025
Bwipo’s exact words were pretty striking. He claimed there isn’t enough support for professional female players. He added that women’s anatomy and monthly cycles are “quite different” from men’s. In his opinion, there’s no “adequate support system” for women to handle competition. He went on to say that many people, even men, can “lose their minds” playing League of Legends. He then concluded, “when a woman is at the wrong time of the month to play competitively, you know what I mean? There’s a time of the month when you shouldn’t play competitive games as a woman, in my opinion.”
Because of this, substitute player İbrahim “Gakgos” Samet will step in for Bwipo. Gakgos will take over the top lane position for FlyQuest. They will face the Brazilian team Vivo Keyd Stars in a match on September 20. This game is important, as it’s the upper bracket final of the LTA Championship 2025, also known as Cross-Conference. Beyond the suspension, FlyQuest also announced a significant gesture: all prize money Bwipo earns from the tournament will go to charities that support women in gaming. It’s a clear message about their values.
Recently, Bwipo made sexist comments that are antithetical to FlyQuest’s core values. 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…
— FlyQuest (@FlyQuest) September 9, 2025
FlyQuest’s Official Stance
FlyQuest’s statement was direct and powerful. They noted that Bwipo’s sexist comments go against their core principles. The organization stressed its daily commitment to improving the gaming world. This includes helping every passionate competitor reach their highest potential.
The team proudly highlighted their RED program. This initiative aims to boost diversity and support underserved communities in gaming. FlyQuest firmly believes that comments which discourage any young woman from pursuing a professional gaming dream harm the future of esports. They take such matters very seriously. While their first instinct is often to educate in response to ignorant comments, they also value accountability. This is why Bwipo was suspended from the upcoming LTA playoff series, and his prize money will support women in gaming.
Community Reactions to Bwipo’s Comments
Bwipo has long been a fan favorite, especially within the Brazilian League of Legends community. His connection is personal; he’s the son of a Brazilian native and shares the common name “Gabriel.” He even offered help to the LOUD team and other professional players from the “green and yellow nation” when he competed in the first Cross-Conference in São Paulo. This history makes his recent comments even more surprising to many.
Many influential figures across the LoL and broader esports world quickly reacted to the player’s statements. One notable voice was Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere, a Belgian presenter who won “Esports Host of the Decade” at the Esports Awards. She shared her thoughts with a touch of humor and sarcasm.
Fk was just about to boot up a League game but realized I am on my period :/
— Eefje Depoortere (@sjokz) September 9, 2025
“Damn, I was about to start a game in LoL and realized I’m on my period,” Sjokz playfully posted. She continued the joke, suggesting some “client updates” for women playing while on their period.
Client update: When on period you now receive:
– Less LP loss upon losing a game and increased LP gain upon victory
– Basic attacks damage % increased based on which active day of period
– Reduced Shop Prices
– SR Music Bed now LoFi to quell emotions whilest playing— Eefje Depoortere (@sjokz) September 9, 2025
Sjokz’s sarcastic “client update” included:
- Less points when losing a game and more points when winning.
- Basic attack damage increased by a percentage based on the active day of menstruation.
- Reduced prices in the shop.
- An “SR Music Bed and LoFi to calm emotions while playing.”
Another prominent figure in the esports world to comment was Júlia “Mayumi” Nakamura. She’s a former professional player and now a content creator for Team Liquid. Mayumi also used a touch of humor in her response. She announced she wouldn’t be streaming because, as she put it, she was menstruating and couldn’t play League of Legends.
sem stream hoje ❌
estou menstruada e não posso jogar league of legends
stream só daqui 10 dias
apenas respeitando o ciclo natural das coisas 🙏— liquid mayumi (@jumayumin1) September 9, 2025