Riot Games has removed veteran top laner Gabriel “Bwipo” Rau from the League of Legends Worlds 2025 anthem music video following backlash over sexist remarks he made during a recent stream.
“Bwipo was featured in the original cut, but given his recent comments, we decided it wouldn’t be right to showcase him in a piece that represents LoL Esports, pro players, and fans,” Riot said in an official statement on X (formerly Twitter). The developer pushed back the Worlds 2025 anthem release to Oct. 13 as the team removes Bwipo’s scenes from the final edit.
The developer also clarified that the call to edit the Belgian pro player out was “not part of any sanction or competitive ruling” but rather reflects the company’s desire to represent the sport and community in a certain way to everyone on the global stage. Bwipo was initially a big part of the video, representing the Americas. According to the developer, the region will not appear in this year’s video as originally intended.
Bwipo is a longtime League veteran who has won multiple regional titles and earned a reputation for his outspoken personality and deep understanding of the game. However, during a recent stream, he made remarks about women in esports that many in the community found sexist and dismissive. On Sept. 9, he publicly apologised for his words on social media, accepting the fines levied on him by the developer and FlyQuest.
Bwipo with FlyQuest has qualified for Worlds 2025 after winning the LTA Championship 2025 against Vivo Keyd. The team will be looking to give a flying start to North America’s campaign at the international stage.
Published: Oct 9, 2025 05:01 am