The South Korean esports organization Generation Gaming, commonly known as Gen.G, recently found itself at the center of controversy due to a social media post on its Facebook account. The post, which has since been removed, referred to Taiwan as the first “overseas country” for a product launch by one of Gen.G’s sponsors. This reference sparked significant backlash from Chinese netizens, leading to the organization issuing an official statement of apology on Wednesday.
Gen.G’s statement emphasized their respect for China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, acknowledging the error in their overseas social media content. The organization admitted to lax scrutiny in the creation of the post and has since taken corrective measures. The responsible staff members have been subjected to serious criticism and suspended from their social media posting duties. Furthermore, Gen.G has ceased all related promotions and canceled the team’s planned visit to Taiwan for the event.
The apology, posted on Gen.G’s League of Legends branch on China’s X-like Sina Weibo, was released in both Chinese and Korean languages. It quickly became a trending topic on Weibo, amassing over 45 million views by Thursday afternoon. In their statement, Gen.G committed to learning from this mistake and pledged to strengthen communication with international partners to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Founded in 2017, Gen.G is a well-known name in the esports industry, with headquarters located in Seoul, Los Angeles, and Shanghai. The organization is recognized for its diverse array of esports teams, competing in popular games such as League of Legends and PUBG: Battlegrounds. In 2019, Forbes ranked Gen.G sixth on its list of the world’s most valuable esports companies, highlighting the organization’s prominence in the global gaming community.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of cultural sensitivity and awareness in the global esports arena. As organizations like Gen.G operate on an international stage, understanding and respecting the political nuances of different regions becomes crucial. Gen.G’s response to the incident demonstrates their commitment to upholding these values and maintaining a respectful presence in the esports world.
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