Latest news with #Melee
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Mang0 says he's three weeks sober after Smash ban and Twitch fallout
Legendary Super Smash Bros. Melee player Joseph 'Mang0' Marquez has announced that he is three weeks sober, following a public fall from grace involving alcohol abuse. The update comes a month after Mang0 was dropped by esports organization Cloud9 and briefly banned on Twitch due to his behavior at Ludwig's Beerio Kart event on June 21, 2025. The tournament, which required players to drink alcohol during Mario Kart races, saw Mang0 allegedly harassing fellow streamers including ExtraEmily. The incident led to widespread criticism, with some fans also blaming Ludwig for encouraging Mang0's drinking. Despite this, Mang0 took full responsibility and revealed he's now banned from Melee tournaments for a year. 'I think it's fine,' Mang0 told fans during a July 21 Twitch stream. 'If you're a Mang0 fan, I'd appreciate it if no one harassed the TOs.' Marquez confessed that a few days after the incident, he drank a full bottle of gin alone and broke down emotionally. He also shared that rehab was financially out of reach after losing 80% of his income, but he's been getting support from professionals and plans to begin therapy once his insurance is reinstated. While he hasn't found AA meetings helpful, Mang0 is researching and using online resources to stay on track. 'I'm proud to say… I am three weeks sober today,' he said. 'I don't really have the urge to drink.' With a one-year ban in place, fans remain hopeful that Mang0 will return to competitive Smash stronger than ever.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Super Smash Bros. pro Westballz slams Ludwig for 'enabling' Mang0's actions at Beerio Kart 2025
(Image via @LudwigAhgren/X & @WeshBallz/X) Super Smash Bros. veteran Weston 'Westballz' has sparked a major controversy by accusing Twitch streamer and Beerio Kart organizer Ludwig Ahgren of 'enabling' fellow pro Mang0 into a medical emergency. The incident stems from the latest Beerio Kart 2025 event, where Mang0's behavior under the influence shocked both attendees and viewers, and now, the spotlight is shifting. What Went Down at Beerio Kart 2025? Beerio Kart is an alcohol-fueled spin on Mario Kart where streamers compete while drinking — a chaotic but popular spectacle. This year, however, things took a darker turn. Mang0, visibly intoxicated, was caught behaving inappropriately around female streamers. One viral clip showed him pressing himself against Twitch streamer Maya Higa while holding plushies and cardboard cutouts — behavior that many deemed deeply uncomfortable and inappropriate. Westballz Blames Ludwig | Valkyrae on Mang0 Drunk Night Westballz 's Accusation Against Ludwig While Mang0's actions triggered widespread backlash, Westballz turned the heat toward Ludwig. In a now-viral post, he accused Ludwig of pushing Mang0 toward excess: 'You enabled someone into a medical emergency! Saying to 'increase those numbers,' and then once sh** hits the f**king fan, you say he's banned from all your events. After that, he's dropped from C9, banned from Melee tournaments.' Westballz questioned the sincerity of Ludwig's friendship with Mang0, arguing that encouraging dangerous behavior and later cutting ties isn't how a real friend acts. He also claimed the fallout from this will harm the Melee scene itself, suggesting viewership will drop now that one of its most iconic figures has been publicly disgraced and banned. What Exactly Happened with Mang0? Mang0's antics included suggestive behavior toward multiple female streamers. One viral clip in particular, where he appeared to push up against Maya Higa from behind, lit Reddit and Twitter/X on fire, sparking outrage. Though intoxicated, many fans and creators saw his behavior as inexcusable. Valkyrae later weighed in, calling the incident a 'disaster,' and emphasized that Mang0 'needs to seek help.' A Community Divided Some fans side with Westballz, saying Ludwig, as host, should've kept the event under control. Others argue Mang0 is responsible for his own actions, regardless of encouragement. There's also the bigger picture — the impact on the Super Smash Bros. community. Mang0 was one of its biggest icons. Westballz fears that this incident and the way it was handled could hurt the game's visibility and legacy. The Beerio Kart saga might just change how streamer-led events are run moving forward. Because enabling, even unintentionally, has its consequences. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
"He Was a Mess": Valkyrae Questions Mang0's Behavior Amid Ongoing Controversy
In the wake of a contentious and chaotic weekend livestream, esports veteran Joseph 'Mang0' Marquez is coming under fire ,not just from fans and peers, but now by industry legends such as Rachell 'Valkyrae' Hofstetter. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A Community Favorite Crosses the Line Mang0, widely considered one of the most successful, popular, and influential Super Smash Bros. Melee players of all time, was one of 23 streamers invited to compete at the June 21 event, a raucous, booze-soaked tournament created by YouTube star Ludwig. Meant as an innocent, nostalgic nod to the original Mario Kart setup that should have been a funny and harmless throwback, the stream took a seriously gross turn almost immediately. Footage of the stream soon spread across all social media platforms and faced backlash for the action taking place as well as the normalization of high levels of drinking at creator events. Valkyrae Speaks Out: 'He Was a Disaster' Like many of us, during her June 24 livestream, Valkyrae was furious over the whole situation. She said, "'Really was fun, but the Mang0 situation was serious.' Yeah, no, Mang0 was a disaster. He was a mess. And I cannot believe the clips that I saw. I, just yeah, it is quite unfortunate. I do think that he needs to seek help for sure." Valkyrae speaks about the Mang0 Incident during Ludwig's Beerio Kart The fallout for Mang0 has been pretty swift and severe. On June 25, after facing backlash, he issued an apology on X, taking responsibility for the fact that he messed up, hurt people, and crossed a line. In his admission, he cited a recent history of alcohol-related misconduct and a willingness to change and learn from his mistakes. Even with these provisions, for many the damage was done. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Cloud9, Mang0's esports organization of many years, cut his contract in the wake of an internal investigation. In the midst of this, Ludwig personally declared that Mang0 would be banned from all future events his company runs, which would effectively remove him from most of the biggest Melee tournaments left. As the dust settles, fans and industry leaders alike are left with one inevitable question, how much is acceptable to endure in pursuit of content? One thing is for certain, Mang0's footprint on Melee can't be scrubbed clean, but whether or not he has a future in the community remains uncertain.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mang0 gets banned on Twitch days after drunkenly harassing female streamers live at Beerio Kart 2025
(Image via YouTube/@Cloud9Mang0 & X/@scubaryan_) Smash Bros legend Joseph "Mang0" Marquez is facing the fallout after a wild night at Ludwig's Beerio Kart event. Known for his iconic Melee gameplay and chaotic charm, Mang0's recent behavior, drunkenly harassing streamers at the event, has landed him in serious hot water. Days later, he's been banned from Twitch, dropped by C9, and blocked from major tournaments. The community's response? A mix of disappointment, concern, and tough love. What Actually Happened? On June 21, Mang0 showed up to Ludwig's Beerio Kart World Cup , a drinking game twist on Mario Kart, where players had to finish their drinks during the race. What was supposed to be lighthearted chaos quickly turned sour. Mang0, heavily intoxicated, reportedly harassed several female streamers, most notably ExtraEmily, during the livestreamed event. The fallout? Swift. And brutal. Banned from Twitch… Again On June 25, Mang0's Twitch channel was officially suspended. Anyone visiting his page now sees the usual: 'This channel is temporarily unavailable due to a violation of Twitch's Community Guidelines.' It's unclear how long the ban will last, but given Twitch's strict policies on harassment and self-destructive behavior, even if done 'for entertainment', this one might not be short. Notably, this isn't Mang0's first Twitch ban. Back in 2021, he was briefly suspended for passing out drunk live on stream. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like True Italian Dining SJM Resorts Read More Undo The red flags have been waving for a while. Dropped by Cloud9 and Barred from Super Nova Before the Twitch ban even landed, Cloud9—the esports org Mang0's been with for years—cut ties with him. Then came the bombshell from Super Nova (previously Super Smash Con): Mang0's out. He won't be defending his championship titles in singles or doubles this year. In a statement, the tournament organizers said: 'The safety and respect of our attendees is of utmost importance to us.' Safe to say: the Melee scene is drawing a hard line. Mang0's Response: Rehab and Accountability Facing massive backlash, Mang0 took to X (formerly Twitter) to own up. Here's what he said: 'After reflecting on the worst moments of my life, I see a pattern: alcohol has always been involved,' he wrote. 'I promise I'm gonna beat this and show you that I can be a greater man without the influence of alcohol.' He also said he fully supports any future bans or consequences, adding that he's always wanted what's best for the Melee community. What's Next for Mang0? No word yet on how long Mang0's Twitch ban will last—or if it'll become permanent. But one thing's clear: the community is done turning a blind eye. The Smash community might be known for its memes and chaos, but it's also growing up. And it's holding its legends accountable. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Cloud9 ends 11-year e-sports partnership with Mang0 over misconduct allegations
Professional e-sports organisation, Cloud9, has officially ended its 11-year partnership with Joseph "Mang0" Marquez following multiple instances of inappropriate physical actions during a recent event. The decision to drop the popular esports player was announced recently. The move comes after two days of backlash against Mang0, who reportedly engaged in multiple inappropriate actions toward other creators, including several women, during Ludwig Ahgren 's Beerio Kart World Cup . This incident led to Ludwig banning Mang0 from all future Mogul Moves events. With this decision, Cloud9 has ended one of the longest sponsorships in esports history. The company took to the social media platform X (earlier Twitter) to announce its decision. Why was Mang0 dropped by Cloud9 Cloud9 stated that it conducted an internal review over the past few days concerning the incident of drunken harassment involving Mang0, ultimately deciding to part ways with him. In the X post, the company wrote: 'We are aware of the recent incident involving Joseph 'mangO' Marquez and fully acknowledge the concerns raised by our community and partners. Following an internal evaluation, we have made the decision to release Mango from Cloud9. Regardless of tenure or accomplishments, the behaviour demonstrated is entirely unacceptable and directly conflicts with our organisation's core values. We maintain a zero-tolerance stance regarding harassment or any other form of inappropriate conduct. Our primary focus remains fostering a respectful, inclusive, and safe environment for everyone associated with Cloud. We will continue to collaborate closely with our talent, partners, and community to uphold and reinforce these standards. We wish Mango the best in his future endeavours.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cặp EUR/USD: Đà Tăng? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo What Mang0 said about Cloud9's decision Before Cloud9's decision, Mang0 publicly acknowledged his actions, vowed to stop drinking, and accepted full responsibility, stating he would face any consequences, including Ludwig's response and his removal from Cloud9. Following Cloud9's official statement, Mang0 admitted the situation was his fault, issued another apology, and said he would likely take a break from being online for a while. In his X post, Mang0 wrote: 'C9 dropping me. Probably getting banned from tourneys. F**king s**t man. No one to blame but myself but man never though I could hit this low. Probably won't hear from me for a while. I'm sorry everyone. Wish I was better .I had it all and f**king tossed it in the trashcan.' Mang0 joined Cloud9 in May 2014 after already establishing himself as one of the top Super Smash Bros. Melee players. Over his 11-year tenure, he consistently ranked among the top 10, became a popular Twitch streamer , and was widely considered one of the greatest Melee players ever. His major victories under Cloud9 include Evo 2014, multiple Smash Summit wins, three Big House titles, and Supernova 2024. Realme GT 7: 7000mAh Battery, 120W Charging & Flagship Power Under Rs 40K! AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
