League of Legends Pro Suspended, Fined for Racist Joke

J Station X: Professional League of Legends player Felipe 'YoDA' Noronha gets a suspension and a fine from Riot Games for posting a racist joke on social media.

[xtheblackparade]

"Noronha posted a racist joke making fun of Japanese players. The tweet, which has since been deleted, mocks Japanese pronunciation and includes an incorrect spelling of “frango” "

Japanese is a race confirmed by MSI.

[itBourne]

I mean https://pbs.twimg.com/media...

You didnt know, everything is racist now days.

[xtheblackparade]

@itBourne
Definitions sure are switching now and then. Society has to be careful not to let company policy dictate the law. This man, lost his income and image all because the company he worked for dictates what racism means. Sure, it's and interesting experiment to see how much power our governments want to give corporations but this mans life sure changes just because some dude higher up decided to change the definition of racism.

[Ashlen]

@xtheblackparade

No, he lost his income because he didn't represent his company properly. If a salesman goes into every job and insults the customers and costs the company sales do you not think the company has the right to punish him?

He's working for a private entity this has nothing to do with free speech.

[nveenio]

You know, fellow N4G-ers, complaining about people getting in trouble for being racist sure does make you sound racist.

[medman]

+inveni0
I think it mostly makes them sound ignorant. But theres plenty of that going around so, just don't catch their "I have no idea what I'm talking about, but I'll open my mouth anyway" disease.

[SonyWarrior]

the uneducated dont know what race is they think Nationality, ethnicity, religion, race are all the same thing... sad really...

[nveenio]

@SonyWarrior, arguing about semantics is a not-clever way of avoiding the point, don't you agree?

[JBaby343]

@Shin-Zantetsuken: I'm sorry that happened to you. Definitely messed up but don't think it is only "westerners" or "Americans" or whatever. People in every culture mock people from others. I've been made fun of by all different types.

[xtheblackparade]

@hurt feelings

I've been mocked for my English pronounciation online so many times, why is it that I have a laugh with it and you guys take offense? It's just complete bull, and someone being called a racist for it even, that's just insane. Well i'll leave it at that because it doesn't look like you guys will ever agree given the mindset.

[EatCrow]

@shin

That is precisely the point. Why call it racism? It wasn't. If they're going to fine him or something at least report it for what it was. An offense. He said something kinda rude. That is all.

Just don't call it racism when it isn't. And that is in fact the point. Calling it by what it is.

[Christopher]

Racism has become the new word for bigot. But, regardless of its use, we do agree people shouldn't be bigots, right?

[EatCrow]

To be honest who is to say what people should be or shouldn't be. Where does this almighty moral law come from?

Bigot is unfortunately a word being used solely as a weapon for when others don't agree with you.

[bluefox755]

He should know that jokes are off rimits.

[GeisT]

I hope Riot doesn't ret this get out off hand.

[Leeroyw]

Gold. I got it.

[SaveFerris]

What was the joke? I don't get how making fun of how some Japanese people might pronounce a word in Portuguese is 'racist'?

Racism - a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human racial groups determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is inferior to the others.
- hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

[slavish0]

"intolerance of another race or other races"
He is intolerant of another race "Japanese" and prejudice by concluding "they all" are a certain way. If the topic is about race then it's a no-go. He should have called out the person not ethnicity.

[Ser]

*jumps through more hoops to arrive at that solution*

[SaveFerris]

But isn't he just making fun of a stereotype, rather than saying he 'hates' or is superior to Japanese people because some of them cannot speak Portuguese?

[EatCrow]

That doesn't make him racist. It just means that he has a certain perception of them. Doesn't mean its racist. Did he also say that they all pronounce it that way. He made a general statement based, probably, on his experience.

I know how a spanish person may pronounce certain words because of my experience talking with them. Or how an English speaker may be unable to roll an r without forcing it too much. That doesnt mean im racist.
Its called an observation.

[Allsystemgamer]

You don't know what racism is.

[ZombieGamerMan]

Because all japanese people can pronounce perfect engrish?

[EatCrow]

yea it isn't racist.

[Amongunz]

From the same person who doesnt see saying n**ger 26 times as racist either.. lol who also makes a non stop effort to discount all racist behavior on every racism based article smh

[EatCrow]

@amongunz

Im sorry can you not spell the word. You must feel so guilty just thinking about it. We already had a discussion about that. You sure you want to continue? Didn't bother reading the last message you sent btw.

These claims of "racism" are an insult to the reality that people experienced. So yes. I feel "offended" by how lightly people use the racism card.

[DarkKaine]

Fined? Is that even legal?

Not that I care, would rather have League players permanently suspended with a fine of 50k per player straight to my bank account. They bring toxicity and spam to everything, even forums and IRC chatrooms that have nothing to do with the game.
There is no depth in this game, you simply play the braindead meta while getting cursed at by your teammates for their own fuckups. Utter trash and only popular because it's free and easy to pick up but players are masochistic enough to keep playing (mostly alt-tabbed out though) and getting mad.
Some of them are lucky enough to get a job at some point so they can play non-f2p garbage that doesn't suck on a computer that isn't rocking a 15 year old CPU.
The rest will keep getting angry, giving suggestions to Riot about how they can improve the game (with nobody listening) and be stuck in limbo forever. Everyone hates SJW's yet LoL players are sucking off a developer that is the embodiment of it.. you can't say anything remotely offensive or you'll get reported and probably suspended. I know it's their game and their rules but... they can just fuck off lol.

[TXIDarkAvenger]

Guess we know who's Bronze V.

[Liqu1d]

I don't even get the joke. Google translates it to "I've been screaming chicken in the hotel room of the japoronga here and BR full work flw". What does that even mean? He was screaming chicken in the Japanese hotel room?

[Christopher]

He replaced the 'r' with 'l' in two words, I think. Similar to what you see in South Park all the time.

[Liqu1d]

Like saying "Engrish" instead of "English"? Seems incredibly silly and disrespectful to scream words in a stereotypical Japanese accent, especially in their hotel room. Sounds like childish behaviour.

[Cy]

As far as "offensive" jokes go, what he said was incredibly tame (I've seen more bigoted things written in professionally edited news articles about Trump's family) but, like it or not, he's endorsed by a brand and as such he represents that brand. If they don't want him making jokes like that, they have every right to suspend him.

[PurpHerbison]

People really want to blur the line between what is racist and what isn't. But eh, whatever. Kids will eventually get bored of this whole PC push. They get bored of everything. Racism will be considered cool in 2030. And back to not cool by 2040.

[medman]

This scrawny little nobody is going to get his tail handed to him if he keeps this nonsense up. He'll be saying he's sorry from a hospital bed. Or worse.

[Allsystemgamer]

So it's ok to beat people over tame words?

No one has a spine anymore. Bunch of weak crybabies the lot of you.

[Liqu1d]

That's not what he said. His point was that some don't take too kindly to these sort of jokes.

[medman]

+allsystemgamer
I never said it was, or would be, ok. Read what Liqu1d said and try to understand. Your approach is wrong from the get go, and it leads you to a faulty conclusion because you start from a place of error with an inaccurate assessment and assumption. A lot of that going around these days.

[Amongunz]

Come on white people.. really... its time yall get with the times and kill the whole I say whatever I want thing..... I spent days discussing why defending the guy who said n**ger 26 times on youtube makes no sense to the guy in the comments who endlessly defended that action as "not racist" and he just didnt get it. Anyway... this may not be as offensive... but if you play online.. racist comments and tweeting and fb post etc... its out of control. To the credit of MOST white folks online and real life.... they don't like it either... but this stuff has to.be severely punished.. more in terms of public humiliation and condemnation than even in fines. Racism needs to be a thing of the past and that includes any offensive comments dialog etc... its just old... humanity needs to evolve socially... its 2017 not 1775 sheesh

[Gh05t]

Its cute how you think racism is a "white" problem... how very narrow minded and "western" your world view is.

[Tankbusta40]

Its an "American" thing. I remember reading something before the 2016 election where 6,000 current college students were polled and 49% believed slavery ONLY existed in the American south. So many millennials are ignorant because the school systems have been hijacked and are teaching a certain agenda. You can see it in this guys comments about it not being 1775, like thats when the world first experienced racism. I bet it would shock him to know that there were more slaves sold in central and south america than there were in America.

[Christopher]

Yeah, c'mon white people. Get your act together. We all know you're the only racists out there.

[Amongunz]

Uhhh. Yeah... it is primarily based in discrimination .... from white people.. wow... thats disputed? In america? Lol

[Christopher]

***it is primarily based in discrimination .... from white people.. wow... thats disputed? In america? Lol***

Someone lives in a bubble or is just ignorant.

[Liqu1d]

"Racism needs to be a thing of the past" I agree, so can you stop being racist then?

[Amongunz]

Racism is based on a superiority complex.. its not soley a white problem around the world but in north America it is.... and anyone cant recognize that is part of the problem.

[Gh05t]

"Racism is based on a superiority complex." <- No its not, regardless of what your new age media tells you.

"...but in north America it is." But this happened in Brazil so WTF was the point of bringing in American racial issues?

[Gh05t]

""Racism is based on a superiority complex." <- No its not, regardless of what your new age media tells you. "

Just wanted to say sorry and correct myself, I totally misread/interpreted that wrong. You were right.

[CaptainObvious878]

Really? There's no racist black people in america?

I can't even...

[Amongunz]

This guy eatcrow spends so much energy defending racist behavior. You're the guy I spent too much time explaining why saying n*gger 26 times is offensive.. and i see you all over this article defending more questionable behavior. You should be shamed aggressively as well ... and I repeat... your thinking breeds this kind of behavior marginalizing unacceptable behavior that is offensive to most.

[ajax17]

Wow, they're so damn sensitive.

[TKCMuzzer]

That doesn't matter. He represents someone and getting paid to do so. Companies or brands have to be neutral at all times to avoid obvious issues.
When it just about yourself you have a greater freedom of speech, when you represent someone else you have a greater responsibility. He should know better.

[Tankbusta40]

I hate professional gamers and despise the fact that this is a thing. With that being said, SJWism and PC culture is out of hand. I cannot believe how much the bastions of PC culture(DISNEY in this case ESPN) made out of Adam Jones being called racist things by a few fans at Fenway, so much so they called for the fans to cheer him the next night.

[Articuno76]

Kind of hard to tell what's going on without a translation of whatever it was that was said. He made of people for not being able to pronounce a word properly (when it is ostensibly true)? That can't be the whole story here... Or is it?

[Liqu1d]

It's seems he was screaming chicken in a stereotypical Japanese accent in the Japanese hotel room.

[Articuno76]

The article made it seem it was about something he tweeted :S I'm confused.

[Liqu1d]

He tweeted that he was doing that.

[InTheZoneAC]

ROR!!!! don't be sensitive!!!

[Ants909]

Grow a pair, jesus christ. Who gives a f---!

[Fist4achin]

This guy's a boner!