FaZe Clan has continued to face criticism surrounding its unethical business practices after allegedly recruiting an underage member. However, the eSports team's most recent controversy is not about its founders or upper management. Rather, this news sheds light on one player's problematic behavior during a live stream.
While FaZe Clan has been diversifying its ranks with members like EwOk, the Clan's first deaf and female member, the group's recent recruitments have clearly not impacted the mentalities of its existing roster. In a clip that was posted to Reddit, Fortnite professional Daniel "Dubs" Walsh was caught using a racial slur. As replies and critical reactions rolled in, FaZe Clan responded to the Reddit post in a Tweet.
The team immediately announced that it would not tolerate hate speech and suspended the Fortnite streamer from the team. The Tweet continued by saying that Walsh would not be allowed to represent FaZe in "professional competition, streaming" or on social media posts. It also stated that in order to foster an "inclusive" community, it would require Walsh and all of his teammates to undergo sensitivity training. Walsh himself also responded to the controversy with an apology that acknowledged how hurtful his words were.
It's clear that unlike the previous controversies, which saw several players distance themselves from the gaming collective, Walsh will likely remain with FaZe Clan. Otherwise, the team would likely not place the streamer in sensitivity training. However, it is unclear whether the team's response to this situation is an attempt to garner some goodwill after FaZe Clan's captain Cloakzy distanced himself from the team and ex-member Tfue's scathing lawsuit, or if they are actually committed to creating a more tolerant community.
Intentions aside, the required sensitivity training shows that FaZe Clan is at least taking concrete steps towards ensuring that a similar situation does not occur again. But other issues, like FaZe Jarvis' lifetime Fortnite ban for aimbotting, hint at a more systemic issue with the team's players. Whether FaZe Clan rises above its personnel issues and business practices are entirely up to the members' commitment to positive change. And only time will reveal whether that commitment is true or just for show.