League of Legends pro Bwipo suspended after comments about female players’ monthly cycles

League of Legends professional player Gabriël “Bwipo” Rau has been suspended from competition after comments made during a Twitch stream sparked controversy.

On September 9 2025, Bwipo suggested that female players face unique challenges during their menstrual cycles, claiming there are times when they should not play competitive matches.

He added, “This is not me trying to be sexist or anything,” but the remarks quickly spread online, leading to criticism across the esports community.

The timing drew further attention, as Riot Games’ Game Changers Rising tournament, aimed at supporting female and marginalised-gender players, is set to begin this week.

Long-time League of Legends host Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere described Bwipo’s statements as “dangerous rhetoric in the bigger context.”

FlyQuest, Bwipo’s organisation, issued a statement saying his comments were “antithetical” to the team’s values.

“Comments that might discourage even one young woman from pursuing her dream of becoming a pro player harm the future of esports,” the statement read.

The team confirmed that Bwipo will be suspended from the next LTA playoff series and that his event prize money will be donated to causes supporting women in gaming.

Fellow Riot caster Barento “Raz” Mohammed also weighed in, emphasising broader barriers women face in esports, including unequal support from families, harassment during play, and fewer opportunities for competitive development.

In response to Bwipo’s claims, professional player EXN Raelyni conducted her own experiment, tracking her win rate during her cycle. She found no correlation, joking that the only factor was whether she had eaten recently.

Despite Bwipo's comment, women continue to excel in the esports industry. Examples include Xiaomeng “Liooon” Li, who won Hearthstone’s Grandmasters 2019, and Christine “Potter” Chi, who coached Evil Geniuses to a VALORANT World Championship in 2023.