Overwatch League player apologises after using a slur on-stream

Shanghai Dragons DPS player, Lee "Lip" Jae-won, has issued a public apology via social media after he was caught using a slur in a match between his squad and the Los Angeles Gladiators during the Overwatch League 2021 playoffs.

The incident occurred as Shanghai was about to secure a 2-1 lead during the Winners' Semi-Finals of the bracket against Gladiators. With the OWL broadcast highlighting player comms during their triumphant moments, community member and translator, Gatamchun, spotted a Shanghai player cursing and using Korean slurs on-air.

Shanghai Dragons player apologises for slur during OWL playoffs

Gatamchun later tweeted about this via Twitter on 23rd September. According to Gatamchun, one of the players yelled the "r-word" as well as other Korean insults.

It may be worth reconsidering the automatic replays of the last few seconds of comms @overwatchleague
One of the Shanghai Dragons players can be very clearly heard saying swears and a slur (unclear which) https://t.co/yfDGbHS577

— 아나탈 (@gatamchun) September 23, 2021

While non-Korean speakers didn't catch the insults, plenty of fans that were fluent in the language immediately criticised both the usage of slurs and the decision of OWL to still broadcast the moment during the stream. 

After the match, in which Shanghai ended up winning relatively easily 3-1, Lip took to social media to formally apologise.

오늘 글래디와의 경기중 저의 부적절한 언행으로 인해 불편함을 느끼신분들과 경기를 보고계셨던 모든분들에게 사과드립니다.
해당 선수에게 따로 사과드렸습니다.
앞으로 언행과 태도에대해 주의하겠습니다. 죄송합니다

— LIP (@socutelip) September 23, 2021

Florida Mayhem's manager, Jade "Swingchip" Kim, took the time to translate Lip's apology on Twitter. Jade cited Lip as saying: "I apologise to everyone [that felt] uncomfortable with my inappropriate choice of words, as well as the audience watching our match against the Glads."

"I apologize to everyone uncomfortable with my inappropriate choice of words, as well as the audience watching our match against the Glads.

I have apologized separately to the individual.

I will be cautious about my words and actions in the future. I'm sorry." https://t.co/iLS0iCI4yw

— swingchip💙 (@swingchip930) September 23, 2021

Lip later added: "I have apologised separately to the individual. I will be cautious about my words and actions in the future. I'm sorry."

It remains to be seen whether the Dragons will punish Lip internally or if the Overwatch League will take disciplinary action against him.

We will endeavour to keep you updated as the story develops.

• Read more: Building a Gladiator mentality: How Dpei evolved his coaching style to find success in OWL
  

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Featured image courtesy of Shanghai Dragons.