Popular Canadian Streamer Felix Lengyel AKA xQc has successfully transitioned from a successful gaming career to a full-time streamer. While xQc’s gaming abilities are undeniable, his reputation has been tarnished by the numerous controversies in which he has been involved. Here are a few of the sticky situations in which xQc has found itself over the years.
Since he was a professional Overwatch player, xQc has struggled with living in the spotlight. When Felix was a member of the Dallas Fuel in 2017, he would report any player who he felt was interfering with his game or failing to keep up with his abilities. As a result of his “misuse” of the report button, Blizzard suspended his account for 72 hours.
“If you watch my stream, you know that I am very competitive and always strive to win games,” Lengyel later explained. I’m learning to recognize that not every ranked player has the same goals as me, and I can’t get carried away by them.”
xQc’s competitive nature has frequently gotten the better of him. When the streamer did not get his way, however, he made sure that other players suffered as well. For “non-participation, going AFK repeatedly, and other behavior that negatively impacts the team’s experience,” he was given a seven-day ban from Overwatch.
“I tend to just let go after long days and being strained from rank and pressure,” xQc later apologized. This isn’t a good situation. I should have just turned off the computer and gotten on with my life.” The 2018 season may have been xQc’s most contentious in terms of controversy. To provoke an openly gay opponent, Lengyel made derogatory comments at the start of the season. As a result, he was barred from playing in the remaining Stage 1 matches and fined $2,000 as a result of his actions. xQc was fined $4000 and suspended for four games after using an emoticon to pass racially insensitive comments in Stage 2.
The 2018 season may have been xQc’s most contentious in terms of controversy. To provoke an openly gay opponent, Lengyel made derogatory comments at the start of the season. As a result, he was barred from playing in the remaining Stage 1 matches and fined $2,000 as a result of his actions. xQc was fined $4000 and suspended for four games after using an emoticon to pass racially insensitive comments in Stage 2.
Lengyel was cut from the Fuel’s roster shortly after this incident. “Ultimately, it was in the best interest of our organization and Félix to part ways before the expiration of his contract,” said the team’s owner, Mike Rufail, in a statement released by ESPN. No one cares more about Félix’s success than we do, and we believe he has a promising future ahead of him.”
Felix demonstrated a lack of shame in February 2020 when he in-game displayed a nude NPC. This was his fourth Twitch ban, which was quickly followed by his fifth in June of that year after he watched another sexual video on stream, this time with gorillas.
The Twitch streamer was recently banned from the platform for watching rebroadcast clips from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
While xQc may not be able to avoid controversy in the near future, he can serve as a role model for aspiring streamers. His life is the epitome of the phrase “with great power comes great responsibility.” As a result, one must accept and learn from one’s mistakes in the past.