Blitzchung's Ban and Blizzard's Official Reaction
At the Hearthstone Grandmasters Asia-Pacific this weekend, Grandmaster Blitzchung made a comment in a post game interview about the political situation in Hong Kong. Blizzard did not take kindly to this and banned him and the 2 casters involved in the production and on top of that removed the VOD. This is their official statement on what happened:
Quote from BlizzardDuring the Asia-Pacific Grandmasters broadcast over the weekend there was a competition rule violation during a post-match interview, involving Blitzchung and two casters, which resulted in the removal of the match VOD replay.
Upon further review we have found the action has violated the 2019 Hearthstone Grandmasters Official Competition Rules section 6.1 (o) and is individual behavior which does not represent Blizzard or Hearthstone Esports. 6.1 (o) is found below.
2019 HEARTHSTONE® GRANDMASTERS OFFICIAL COMPETITION RULES v1.4 p.12, Section 6.1 (o)
Engaging in any act that, in Blizzard’s sole discretion, brings you into public disrepute, offends a portion or group of the public, or otherwise damages Blizzard image will result in removal from Grandmasters and reduction of the player’s prize total to $0 USD, in addition to other remedies which may be provided for under the Handbook and Blizzard’s Website Terms.
Grandmasters is the highest tier of Hearthstone Esports and we take tournament rule violations very seriously. After an investigation, we are taking the necessary actions to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
Effective immediately, Blitzchung is removed from Grandmasters and will receive no prizing for Grandmasters Season 2. Additionally, Blitzchung is ineligible to participate in Hearthstone esports for 12 months beginning from Oct. 5th, 2019 and extending to Oct. 5th, 2020. We will also immediately cease working with both casters.
We’d like to re-emphasize tournament and player conduct within the Hearthstone esports community from both players and talent. While we stand by one’s right to express individual thoughts and opinions, players and other participants that elect to participate in our esports competitions must abide by the official competition rules.
This only matters in a court of law, if and when the judges upholds it. Nothing is binding in any contract unless you bring it in front of a judge. Please educate yourself on this. You sign a bad deal, and the other side knows. The judge won't hold you to it.
A tournament is something people work towards to make money. It's a job.
You check your personal views on anything related outside of work, at home.
This is NOT a freedom of speech issue. The Second Amendment only protects you from... GET THIS.... the government retaliating against you for saying something against them. The second amendment doesn't protect you from guy who punches you for calling him something offensive. The second amendment doesn't give you the right to say whatever you want from your employer. Stop being so niave' people.
But back to this tournament being a job. Separate your beliefs from your work. The two should not mix. One should compliment the other, but they should NOT mix.
And if this kid really cared about the topic, why didn't he talk about it before the event with Blizzard? Why didn't he make social media posts about his thoughts BEFORE the post-match interview? Of all the venues for this person to seek to get their message across, they picked the wrong one, and one that expressly states that this isn't the place or the time for those issues.
And there is this thing call 'inherit risk'. Anyone claiming the penalty needs to be lesson, is proof the penalty is EXACTLY what it should be. Don't think you'll be making the same mistake, will you? Some people like to learn by their own mistakes regardless of being told before what would happen, but this stuff. Deserving. Don't want to learn your lesson after the fact, make damn sure you know what lesson it is you're taking before hand. Be prepared.
Yes, if you do not offend anyone in your life, your probably never stood for anything.
It shows character to risk it all for the sake of what you believe is right. In this case Blizz only showed their true face, whether that is correct, the law or culturally appropriate, is irrelevant. A company's main priority is to make money, so it can stay alive. After that come other things.
Political positions, which might cost them a part of their (future) customers, scare company, so they distance themselves from said subject. It really is up to the community. If everyone who spends money on Blizz games would stop playing all the Blizz games for 1 month or longer, I'm sure they'd change their mind on this subject. Money = Vote, in this case.
Bringing politics into sports SHOULD be punished, no matter what the cause is, even if it's "right". This is just plain dumb, especially since all competitors KNEW the rules and should know that they would be punished if doing so. Punishment may have been overreacted, he should have paid the fee or/and taken his money from victories away.
However, the outrage is just plainly dumb, people really should stop doing riots like that. Just because of one country entire company should go bankrupt? Disgusting. I'm still surprised that the entire #BlizzardBoycott isn't banned on Twitter as spam. It's just community harassing Blizzard for punishing people who BREAKED THE RULES of the match.
Law is on their side, no matter how much cattle will continue to bash their keyboard spreading hate. If anything, this could be considered hate speech, which is punishable.
Don't blame Blizzard. It is US Government start trade war with China Government issue.
How can anybody even doubt it's justified after they cited the exact part of the rules that specifies the punishement?
I mean, banning him for a year is pretty severe, but it's the pinnacle fo Hearthstone tournaments, you should either adhere to the rules, strict as they may be, or not participate (Like Dog did, just because it's forbidden to stream in the days you play).
That exact part of the rules states: "Blizzard can do whatever they want".
Doesn't take a genius to quote that part of the rules.
You probably get punished, yes.
If a Soccer player here in Germany after he shoot a goal raise his shirt and often under that they have another shirt ( you probably know what I mean several players did some messaging like that) , with ; Free HongKong...
From what I know not even 100% of the time he would get a punish. But let’s say some of their sponsors is also partners with China. What usually happens is a statement by a Lawyer of the team where he carefully tries to please everyone. Then the player would get his punishment, usually something like he has to pay 50k from his own money for a good cause.... That’s basically a fingerslap for professional Soccerplayers. In Blitzchungs case i would imagine a Statement a la : .. as a company we are obviously pro free speech etc. but in his case the rules say this and that , but since this was that players first mistake blabla.. we choose to punish him with the monetary loss of the game he won last Sunday ( they get 500$ bonus per victory over another player) .
What certainly wouldn’t happen is that the player, and the Camerateam who showed him , get suspended for a year, and their earnings get cut.
Like Kibler wrote, punishment, yes , obviously they represent Blizzard and it’s not very professional to do something like that. Also you certainly wouldn’t want that to happen all the time , but they made it look like they straight bend over, and said: Hai Mr Xi, heads will roll !
even US government officials from both sides strongly object blizzards decision to censor free speech
you've done well, blizzard
That's not what the china post said.
I agree with you in the sense that, if there is no call to violence, then the action should be protected by freedom of speech.
I disagree with the comparison of "invading" Hong Kong to invading Guatemala because Hong Kong is a part of China, and is calling for independence despite there being treaties that clearly state that Hong Kong legally will lose any autonomy by the mid 2000s. I think a better comparison would be if a person from, Puerto Rico, which is a part of U.S. but is only a territory. If there were violent protests in Puerto Rico calling for independence, the U.S. would shut it down, and rightfully so.
"because Hong Kong is a part of China"
For only the past 22 years. But I'm sure that if the United Kingdom were to invade Kenya, a country they ruled over for 43+ years, you would would totally support it too because "Kenya used to be a part of Britain", amirite?
You are, as usual, ignoring national sovereignty.
I would not support it, since kenya is not a part of Britain. Therefore, it is an invasion.
However, there would be nothing unusual if, for example, the U.S. sent troops to Puerto Rico to quell rebellion. This is because Puerto Rico is a part of the U.S. This was my example, which was not addressed.
Quick Edit: I also have no idea what you mean by "as usual". Have we spoken before, or are you making an accusatory assumption about my character?
Well done, blizzard. Thanks for keeping the political trash out of the game
"We will, as always, resolutely safeguard the country’s dignity."
You know China's dignity that is.
They are slowing killing its own game.
https://twitter.com/GodsUnchained/status/1181487505180258304
To Blizzard with love, eat crow motherfuckers.
So Gods Unchained is using this to take advantage and advertise itself, nice...
Blizzard has been shoving politically correct agendas down its fans' throats for years. But when the time come for Blizzard to actually stand up for justice, it kowtows to its master. Hypocrisy at its finest.
Just curious, since when Blizzard is responsible for any justice? Isn't there any court or other authority responsible for that? In the best case, Blizzard is responsible for justice against Night Elves in WoW.