In the early hours of May 19, 2025, Team Liquid co-founder and co-CEO Victor Goossens took to X (formerly Twitter) to issue a formal apology following a controversy involving Rainbow Six Siege player Lucas “DiasLucasBR”. The incident has had major consequences, both for the player and the organization, including the loss of a six-year sponsorship deal with Honda.
What Happened?
Following Team Liquid’s defeat to CAG Osaka at R6 RELOAD, DiasLucas posted a now-deleted GIF on social media. While the GIF was reportedly intended to symbolize his team’s performance “blowing up,” many interpreted it as a reference to the atomic bombings of Japan. Which is obviously a deeply sensitive and traumatic topic. The backlash was swift, particularly from the Japanese esports community and global fans.
On May 15, DiasLucas issued a personal apology:
“From the bottom of my heart, it was never my intention to make any offensive reference, but I recognize that the context and choice were inappropriate.”
Team Liquid Responds and Announces Disciplinary Action
After several days of silence, Team Liquid released a detailed statement on May 19, acknowledging the situation and outlining the consequences:
- DiasLucas will forfeit four months’ salary and undergo media and sensitivity training.
- The entire R6 squad will donate their $12,000 tournament winnings, along with DiasLucas's fine, to charity.
- Over the next six months, all players and coaches within the organization will attend mandatory sensitivity training, using this incident as a case study.
Here is the full tweet announcement below:
"Lucas made a regrettable decision in the heat of the moment,” the statement read. “We believe there was no malicious intent, only a serious lapse in judgment and awareness."
Honda Ends Six-Year Partnership with Team Liquid
The most immediate corporate fallout was the loss of Team Liquid’s long-standing sponsorship with Honda. The automotive giant, which had served as title sponsor for Liquid’s League of Legends team and participated in marketing campaigns, has opted not to renew its partnership.
This marks a significant financial and branding blow to Team Liquid, which has worked with Honda since 2019.
Goossens Remarks
Victor Goossens emphasized both accountability and context in his personal remarks, expressing sorrow for the harm caused but reaffirming the organization's stance that DiasLucas did not act out of hate.
"We have taken action, and we believe in accountability. But we also believe in fairness and context… This kid deserves to play.”
While the fallout has been substantial, Team Liquid’s response appears aimed at long-term growth, education, and rebuilding trust with the global esports community. What will this mean for future partnerships and esports? That remains to be seen.
What are your thoughts on the article? Do you think Honda made the right move? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below.
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