T1 CEO Joe Marsh has apologized to fans and the League of Legends community for his behavior following an internet incident involving LCK player Mun ‘Oner’ Hyeon-jun, taking a six-month pay cut while promising to behave more responsibly from now on
T1 is one of the world’s most well-known esports organizations, but that status comes with a lot of attention. CEO Joe Marsh is renowned for being active on social media, joking with fans, and supporting his players.
Marsh’s recent statements on the team’s Discord chat, however, enraged T1 supporters. They alleged that the CEO made improper comments regarding jungler Oner’s appearance, thus distracting the pro’s attention.
Joe regarded it as a judgmental mistake and asked for forgiveness from T1 fans as he took the situation to Twitter, especially because it undermined the members’ and their official staff’s sense of ‘unity.’
The CEO also apologized for comments posted on the Discord channel concerning T1 Mun “Oner” Hyeon-League jun’s of Legends jungler, as well as the lack of effective efforts to remove racist behaviors.
“I am proud of the hard work he has put into working out, and I made a joke about spraying oil on him for a photoshoot and used the phrase ‘thirst trap,’”
“I gave my sincere apology to him directly. I will make sure nothing like this happens again.”
“It was an inappropriate move to share such information and pictures externally, especially through an unofficial outlet,”
On the public Discord, hateful comments were directed toward T1 fans. According to the organization, these remarks were not removed or regulated in a timely manner.
In addition to the apology, Marsh has agreed to take a six-month wage decrease as punishment. Several employees who were in charge of the Discord server are also facing disciplinary action.
T1 finished second in the 2022 Summer LCK group stage with a record of 15-3. They await their opponents from Round 1 in the semifinals, where DWG KIA and KT Rolster will compete in a best-of-5 series.