Buzz
A solitary error triggers a sequence of self-destructive maneuvers by Gen.G
On December 20, the global League of Legends community was stirred by a post in Chinese on Gen.G's official Facebook. Aimed at celebrating international events, starting with China, the team's post contained highly sensitive content, enraging the LPL fans and risking the loss of their support. The contentious post was promptly removed.
However, the aftermath became even more severe as Gen.G's media team attempted damage control. Their apology to the LPL audience accidentally offended LCK fans due to misinformation. The initial apology was taken down, followed by a revised statement and a second apology, inadvertently escalating the situation.
Across various forums, the incident ignited a mix of opinions. A small segment of Gen.G's staunch supporters believed the LPL audience was overreacting. Nonetheless, the majority criticized Gen.G for poor crisis communication and inappropriate content, leading to the suspension of their media team and the looming threat of canceling their participation in international events.
More alarmingly, some fans highlighted a worst-case scenario: Gen.G's actions could lead to the LCK being 'banned' by the LPL. Previously, the LPL had to apologize after a girl group made cultural comments. Now, Gen.G's issue, being far more severe, is anticipated to have significant consequences, affecting not only Gen.G but potentially the entire LCK.
In the League of Legends community, the LPL stands as a colossal market, arguably the largest, with a fanbase larger than any other region worldwide. However, a misstep by Gen.G could potentially put the entire LCK in jeopardy, making them the first to bear the brunt of this blunder.
