BLAST has apologised to Group Vitality’s Shahar ‘flameZ’ Shushan, following an incident at BLAST Bounty Season 1. The match organizer drew criticism over claims they misrepresented the Israeli’s actions.
The Counter-Strike professional was proven ‘giving the finger’ throughout a match in opposition to Everlasting Fireplace, however the match organizer later clarified that the gesture was not directed at Everlasting Fireplace’s gamers.
BLAST apologized for the mischaracterization of flameZ’s actions, and expressed “remorse” that the edit had led to “a hoard of abusive messages being directed to the participant on-line.” Article continues after advert
BLAST’s full response
BLAST issued a press release to Twitter/X on January 25, which learn: “Yesterday there was an incident involving Vitality participant, flameZ, the place a center finger gesture was caught on digicam.
“This second, which occurred in an out-of-context interplay between the participant and the digicam crew, shouldn’t have been aired as this interplay occurred earlier than the match began. We wish to make clear that the gesture was not aimed toward any opponent or fellow competitor. Article continues after advert
“We deeply remorse that this has led to a hoard of abusive messages being directed on the participant on-line. We sincerely apologise for the adverse consideration it has triggered and we don’t condone any abuse in direction of any participant in any form or type.”Article continues after advert
Yesterday there was an incident involving Vitality participant, flameZ, the place a center finger gesture was caught on digicam.This second, which occurred in an out-of-context interplay between the participant and the digicam crew, shouldn’t have been aired as this interplay occurred…— BLAST Premier 💥 (@BLASTPremier) January 25, 2025
What occurred?
With Vitality trailing 0-4 within the first map of Anubis, the Israeli star rifler was handed the crew’s solely rifle going into the spherical. flameZ went on to safe a triple-kill within the spherical, which proved decisive as Vitality went on to win their first spherical of the competition.
Consequently, Everlasting Fireplace referred to as a timeout between the rounds. Throughout that point, BLAST’s manufacturing reduce to footage of the spherical, adopted by video footage of flameZ giving the finger.Associated:NICKMERCS & ImperialHal conflict over Apex Legends scrims: “Sick of this sh*t”Article continues after advert
After the match, the participant posted a statment on Twitter/X, stating that the gesture had not been aimed toward Vitality’s opposition. “Simply to make clear relating to the center finger, I used to be joking with the cameraman and pointed the center finger at him. Blast took it from a special angle and posted it,” flameZ said.Article continues after advert
Wp to @eternalfiregg we battle in opposition to them, not the lan debut we wished for.Simply to make clear relating to the center finger, i used to be joking with the digicam man and pointed the center finger at him, blast took it from a special angle and posted it 😀I’ve nothing however respect to…— Shahar Shushan (@flameZcsgo) January 24, 2025
The photographer concerned, Venaxie, later revealed that the footage was captured “earlier than the sport had even began,” suggesting that it couldn’t have been a results of the in-server motion.Article continues after advert
I’m actually the photographer he’s flipping off so sure, he’s talking the reality. He additionally did this earlier than the sport had even began. https://t.co/9Z6HEfY2iB— Steph 📸 (@Vexanie) January 24, 2025
In response to this, HLTV Editor-in-Chief, Milan ‘Striker’ Švejda, stated, “BLAST rolling this mid-map when it’s from pre-game and never directed on the different crew is fairly rattling tough.”
In response to the criticisms surrounding the state of affairs, BLAST launched the assertion above, and as of writing, flameZ has not adopted up with one other response.
