Riot Suspends BDS Academy Player Crownie, Allegedly For Calling Someone an “Ape”

Team BDS' League of Legends Academy bot laner Juš "Crownie" Marušič, formerly known as Crownshot, received a competitive suspension lasting two games for negative behavior he reportedly displayed in solo queue games in League of Legends. Team BDS shared the update on its Twitter handle and stated that its League of Legends European Championship (LEC) starting attack damage carry (ADC) Matthew "xMatty" Coombs shall fill in for him for the games against LDLC Olympique Lyonnais [LDLC OL] and Mirage Elyandra in the La Ligue Française (LFL).

Team BDS and Crownie issue statement

Addressing the issue, Team BDS wrote in its release, “Team BDS acknowledges the suspension and strongly condemns this attitude which does not match the values that Team BDS represents and defends. Team BDS will take further internal measures that it considers appropriate.” Additionally, Crownie apologized for his behavior and said, “I accept my suspension and would like to apologize to those offended, my teammates and Team BDS fans. I will be the first supporter of the team this week.”

Riot Games and LoL Esports stated that evidence showed that Crownie displayed negative behavior while playing League of Legends through the standard investigations carried out by League Officials prior to the start of each Season. “Crownie’s usage of inappropriate and offensive language towards other players in the game is unacceptable and has no place in our competitive ecosystem. Additionally, Crownie has an ongoing warning for similar behavior, and a repeated offense meant we had to escalate the penalty,” it added.

According to the official LEC Rulebook, Crownie violated rule 9.1.10 and will be suspended from playing in the next two games in Riot-affiliated competitions, until the 1st July.

Rule 9.1.10 states that a team manager or a member may not use language that is obscene, foul, insulting, threatening, abusive, libelous, slanderous, defamatory, or otherwise offensive or objectionable; or promote or incite hatred or discriminatory conduct at any time. It also states that they cannot use facilities, services, or equipment provided or made available by the league or its contractors to make prohibited communications. “A Team Manager/Member may not use this type of language on social media or during any public-facing events.”

What did Crownie say to get suspended?

The community has been reacting to Crownie’s suspension since it was announced publicly. League of Legends content creators Christian "IWDominate" Rivera and Nick "LS" De Cesare shared their two cents on the issue and the ruling.

According to both of them, Crownie allegedly called someone in a Platinum 3 game an “ape” and was banned for it. IWDominate wrote on Twitter, “Crownie 100% should not be suspended for calling someone an ape. That being said how is it allowed that the punishment for an LFL player being suspended is that their team can use their LEC player in that role. If Czajek calls someone an ape MSF can just use Vetheo in LFL?”

He also raised the question of an LEC player being called to sub in for an LFL player who has been suspended and pointed out that this was not a roster swap.

However, the community also reinstated the fact that this was not the first time Crownie has put forth a negative attitude as stated by the LEC and Riot Games. According to the EMEA [Europe Middle East and Africa] Competitive Operations, Crownie was given a penalty on 1st September 2021 during his team in Team Vitality for “conduct unbecoming of an LEC team member.”