Written by Dante Uzel on 24 February 2025 14:32
Former Fortnite World Cup champion David “aqua” Wang has sparked controversy by partnering with gambling site CSGOEmpire in a bizarre staged kidnapping stunt on X (formerly Twitter). Wang, who now streams on Kick, vanished from social media in December, but resurfaced after Valentine’s Day in a marketing campaign that has drawn widespread criticism.
The controversy began when CSGOEmpire posted a photo claiming to have “kidnapped” someone tied to a chair, later revealed to be Wang. He then posted a video promoting the company’s CSGO cases while appearing anxious, with an unknown figure standing behind him, adding to the eerie tone. Critics quickly labeled the stunt as a desperate attempt to generate attention.
Adding fuel to the fire, Wang’s account responded to one of CSGOEmpire’s Black History Month posts with a racial slur. The post itself was already controversial, as it contained offensive stereotypes. The backlash intensified as users criticized both Wang and CSGOEmpire for their involvement in the campaign.
CSGOEmpire has a history of controversy, including its role in disrupting last year’s PGL Major in Copenhagen. Protesters, later revealed to be backed by the gambling site, stormed the stage and damaged the trophy in an effort to slander G2 Esports. The scandal led to teams and casters withdrawing from CSGOEmpire’s $50,000 tournament, which was ultimately canceled.
Tags: Fortnite
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