Esports community mad at TSM Dunc for insensitive Twitter meme

Professional esports organization TSM ignited immediate controversy when their official Twitter account shared a deeply insensitive meme format that trivialized suicide. The post generated such intense backlash that some community members demanded financial penalties against the organization.

Following a disappointing performance in the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS), TSM’s social media team opted for a dark humor approach using the classic “Are you winning, son?” template. However, this version depicted the son character hanging from the ceiling with an overturned gaming chair, clearly suggesting suicide rather than gaming frustration.

The gaming community mobilized rapidly, with many calling for immediate termination of TSM’s social media manager known as Dunc. Although TSM quickly removed the offensive content from their platforms, screenshots had already circulated widely across social media channels. Numerous fans expressed that the meme crossed ethical boundaries by making light of mental health struggles and suicide.

Dunc addressed the growing controversy through his personal Twitter account, characterizing the post as an “amateur-level error” in judgment. He maintained that he completely misunderstood the visual context, believing the character was simply walking away from the gaming setup after expressing frustration.

“My track record demonstrates consistent advocacy for mental health awareness and suicide prevention initiatives,” Dunc emphasized in his apology. “I have never intentionally joked about these serious issues and deeply regret how this was perceived.”

Just want to apologise for using the wrong image for a sad meme. I completely misjudged the template until it was pointed out.

Amatuer mistake and I won’t let it happen again.

— TSM Dunc (@followdunc)March 5, 2021

The social media manager asserted he took swift action to delete the content once he comprehended the actual meaning behind the imagery.

Community reception to both the incident and subsequent apology revealed deep divisions. Many experienced social media professionals questioned how someone in Dunc’s position could genuinely misinterpret such an established dark meme format.

However, significant portions of the community extended immediate forgiveness. Regular viewers of Dunc’s personal streams testified to his generally positive character, while some esports enthusiasts characterized the demands for his dismissal as disproportionate “digital mob mentality.”

Some supporters shared that they initially interpreted the meme similarly – as depicting gaming rage rather than suicide. This perspective highlights how meme interpretation can vary dramatically based on individual exposure to internet subcultures.

TSM responds to backlash after sharing insensitive meme

While the broader esports community expressed disappointment about the incident’s occurrence, primary criticism focused on TSM’s organizational culture rather than individual accountability. The organization has maintained a controversial reputation within the LCS ecosystem, with some observers noting perceived preferential treatment and concerns about fan community toxicity.

TSM elected to address the escalating situation through an official TwitLonger statement. The organization emphasized that mental health represents a “critical organizational priority, particularly during challenging periods,” explicitly stating that suicide should never be treated as comedic material.

The statement outlined new procedural safeguards to prevent recurrence of similar incidents. These measures likely include multi-layer content approval systems and enhanced staff training on sensitive topic handling.

Mental health is important.

Read:https://t.co/vAwbe8SR9H

— TSM (@TSM)March 6, 2021

Within their comprehensive response, TSM firmly defended their social media manager against mounting criticism. The organization pleaded with fans to cease “targeted harassment and threatening behavior” toward employees.

TSM’s internal review concluded the incident represented a “significant error in judgment” rather than intentional misconduct. “For those familiar with Dunc’s professional conduct, this represents an isolated lapse rather than pattern behavior,” the statement clarified. “He has committed to educational improvement and community trust rebuilding initiatives.”

Community opinions remained sharply divided following the organizational response. Some maintained that termination represented appropriate consequences, while others advocated for forgiveness based on perceived sincerity.

The incident underscores the evolving responsibilities of esports organizations in maintaining professional social media standards. As the industry matures, expectations for responsible content management continue to elevate, requiring more sophisticated approval workflows and staff training protocols.

Riot Games, as the governing body for the LCS, had not issued any public commentary regarding the situation at the time of reporting.

This controversy highlights several critical lessons for esports organizations: implementing robust content review processes, providing comprehensive mental health sensitivity training for social media teams, and establishing clear crisis communication protocols for addressing community backlash effectively.

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