Well-Known Esports Player Apologizes for "Slanting Eyes" Gesture Suspected of Racial Discrimination
During the promotion of the "Honor of Kings" Challenger Cup, Miggie, a substitute player for the Philippine team BOOM, caused public concern by making a "pulling at the corners of the eyes" gesture in the official promotional photo. This gesture is often seen as a discriminatory expression in Asian culture, and the related images quickly sparked controversy after being released.
After the incident fermented, Miggie released an apology statement on overseas social media platforms, stating that the gesture originated from an impromptu act to express frustration after a loss and had no subjective intention to offend others. He also sincerely apologized to all viewers who felt uncomfortable as a result. BOOM team also responded in unison, stating that they respect Chinese culture and event regulations, and attach great importance to this incident.
Subsequently, the KPL event organizing committee issued a public statement on April 22, 2026, acknowledging that there was a lack of control over cultural sensitivity in the review of promotional materials. The controversial images have been removed and replaced immediately. The organizing committee stated that it will further strengthen the review mechanism to avoid similar situations from happening again.