Report: Blizzard Forbids “Okay” Symbol in Overwatch League Arena – Claims It’s a “White Power Symbol”
Blizzard has reportedly forbidden the “okay” hand symbol in the Overwatch League (OWL) Arena claiming it’s a “white power symbol.”
Esports reporter Rod Breslau reported that “Blizzard told a fan in the Overwatch League arena they are not allowed to use ๐for its ‘association as a white power symbol’ after they flashed it on stream and a complaint was made to the OWL account on twitter.”
You can see the symbol flashed on the screen in the background of the interview.
Blizzard told a fan in the Overwatch League arena they are not allowed to use ๐for its ‘association as a white power symbol’ after they flashed it on stream and a complaint was made to the OWL account on twitter pic.twitter.com/RMgUEUsBWK
โ Rod Breslau (@Slasher) April 5, 2019
Breslau’s report is based on a tweet from Twitter user @Rebarob22 who provided a screencap of the tweet in question reporting the “Okay” symbol as a “white power hand signal.”
@Rebarob22 also indicated this is a new policy from Blizzard as the “Okay” symbol had been flashed on OWL broadcasts throughout last season.
So apparently weโre no longer allowed to do the ๐ during OWL broadcasts because itโs a white supremacist symbol? This has been happening since last season and this is the first weโve ever heard about it having such connotations? But Blizzard asked for it to stop, so no more ๐. pic.twitter.com/Y5B4TUvlY2
โ reba (@rebarob22) April 5, 2019
@Rebarob22 indicates the symbol was made by one of their friends.
I wasnโt at the arena tonight because I had to work, but it was a friend that was called out for it and spread the word to the rest of us and Iโm just???? This has been going on all season and part of last. How had we not heard of this sooner.
โ reba (@rebarob22) April 5, 2019
Nobody is inherently angry about it. I understand Blizzard wanting to avoid that negative connotation no matter the intent. Itโs more concerning that it hadnโt been addressed sooner because that brings up the issue that it couldโve sent the wrong message long before now.
โ reba (@rebarob22) April 5, 2019
Another Twitter user by the name of @SteelTrainer_OW claims they were the user who threw up the “Okay” symbol indicating he thought it was for the old “gottem” game.
The Urban Dictionary describes it as the “Circle Game” where players attempt to get people to look at the “Okay” symbol in order to be able to punch everyone who saw it.
I was the fan throwing up the ๐, and I want to apologize for not knowing the context behind it. The superfans have been using it for the old “gottem” game all season, but now that we know the context it is unacceptable.
Thank you for bringing this up. It will not happen again. https://t.co/kjHyUreV3i
โ Ty ‘SteelTrainer’ (@SteelTrainer_OW) April 5, 2019
Breslau indicates that Blizzard has banned the popular Pepe the Frog meme.
Previously Blizzard has banned the use of the pepe the frog within the OWL arena and all teams/players from using it for its association as a symbol with white nationalism/hate groups
feelsbadman pic.twitter.com/xbHcWZr6Zk
โ Rod Breslau (@Slasher) April 5, 2019
He also ridiculed Blizzard for their hypocrisy indicating they will have to ban their own character, Zenyatta, for using the symbol in order to be consistent with their policy.
as a Zen main I am upset my hero will be banned from the game pic.twitter.com/91YpmElEzv
โ Rod Breslau (@Slasher) April 5, 2019
Breslau wasn’t the only one to ridicule Blizzard for their policy. Plenty of other users called them out.
Wait huh… ๐ pic.twitter.com/QqlCAtf4fn
โ Gurg (@Gurgarious) April 5, 2019
The worst of the tiki torch bearers pic.twitter.com/fNiExLKuQA
โ BALLOC (@GhostBALLOC) April 5, 2019
Scuba divers everywhere are very concerned over the misappropriation of their โwe goodโ symbol๐ as they cannot use thumbs-omg-I-need-to-surface-up ๐
โ Riot Blaustoise (@RiotBlaustoise) April 5, 2019
How will I signal to my SCUBA buds underwater that I’m doing okay!? pic.twitter.com/Md4WfxB3cx
โ Kalie (@Kaerrigan) April 5, 2019
โ Envy (@TheBetterEnvy) April 5, 2019
Should I stop the underwater diving!? ๐ pic.twitter.com/3u4ACXcfGx
โ Nuno Arrojado (@WolfskinLux) April 5, 2019
The ๐symbol is also the American Sign Language letter F. We can no longer F to pay respects.
โ Kittenball (@Kittenball_) April 5, 2019
I didn’t know that Malcolm in the middle had an entire episode just about a white supremacy symbol pic.twitter.com/hCzTGBgKxD
โ Chagas.Still.a.Lie (@BesouroDeChagas) April 5, 2019
Even more ironic is the fact that the Overwatch League’s official Twitter account has actually used the “Okay” emoji symbol plenty of times in the past.
Here’s just a few examples:
Timing on POINT ๐. @GestureOW #OWL2018 #TheFirstFinals
LIVE: https://t.co/U6dIioZfOU pic.twitter.com/oOyC9RUy8Q
โ Overwatch League (@overwatchleague) July 28, 2018
Live: https://t.co/U6dIipgQGs pic.twitter.com/sMlOzImsst
โ Overwatch League (@overwatchleague) March 25, 2018
That angle. Four kills. ๐@NotEvenBleu makes it look easy!
11 days left now. #OWL2019 pic.twitter.com/gHf79cHrxi
โ Overwatch League (@overwatchleague) February 5, 2019
TOTALLY on purpose. ๐ pic.twitter.com/7pbOpWrwQN
โ Overwatch League (@overwatchleague) October 1, 2018
What do you make of this report that Blizzard is banning the “Okay” symbol because they believe it is a “white power symbol?” Do you think they will ban themselves for using the symbol on Twitter? Will they delete their own character for using the symbol?
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