In the past few weeks, we’ve seen numerous members of the gaming industry speak out about their experience of sexual harassment and assault, leading to major companies like Ubisoft and Twitch to take action in regards to the allegations. It wasn’t until recently though that several members of the Super Smash Bros. competitive community have confided their experiences with players and commentators that involve pedophilia, rape, sexual harassment, and grooming.
Warning: This article highly contains sensitive topics such as rape, assault, and sexual harassment.
In this article, I will be going into detail on several different cases, but not every single one that has come to light. I will have a list of allegations along with their sources at the end of this story.
The Smash community has had a history of these kinds of allegations for years now, with one of the most mainstream being Cristian “Hyuga” Medina back in 2016 who was accused of rape by Smash caster VikkiKiity while attending EVO in Las Vegas. Hyuga did not deny the claim but explained that he did not remember the altercation due to being drunk. As a result, Hyuga went on to retire from competitive Smash. This lead to him being banned across numerous professional tournaments in the U.S. While a pivotal story leading to the betterment of the community, no other allegations came about from other players at that time, but now, a major cleanse is taking place.
My experience with Cinnpie
Read: https://t.co/fUXxYXshhc
— Puppeh (@PuppehSSB) July 1, 2020
Yesterday, a competitive player known as Puppeh came out about his experience with Cinnpie, a well-known and beloved member of the community, and how he had a relationship with her in 2016 at the age of 14 when Cinnpie was 24. Lasting over the summer, Puppeh explained in his statement about how their relationship led to oral sex and details as to how she manipulated him into keeping quiet about everything by deleting their messages and saying that they could be together when Puppeh turned 18.
My Relationship with Cinnpie, and what this means for us all going forward
Read: https://t.co/qLtT0O0H5X
— Glyphmoney (@Glyphmoney) July 2, 2020
Following Puppeh’s statement, another member named Glyphmoney spoke about his relationship with Cinnpie as well. Being 14 at the time, Glyph said that Cinnpie manipulated them by using sex as a weapon, telling him that they were “soulmates” and wanted a “monogamous relationship.” She later preceded to cheat on him, stating to them that “she belonged to no one,” and that she loved him too much to break up with him despite feeling that she “needed to be free to do what she wanted.”
Glyph even explained how Cinnpie used Puppeh to reach out to him after they broke up and he blocked her on social media. Puppeh backed Glyph’s statement by retweeting it on Twitter. Cinnpie has yet to make any statement on either claim. Following Puppeh’s allegations, several members of the Smash community released their stories that involved some of the most prominent players and commentators in the community, including Nairo, Captain Zack, Keitaro, and D1.
My Relationship with Cinnpie, and what this means for us all going forward
Read: https://t.co/qLtT0O0H5X
— Glyphmoney (@Glyphmoney) July 2, 2020
Zack “Captain Zack” Lauth, who is most known for playing Bayonetta in Smash 4, revealed yesterday on his Twitter that he had sexual relations with Nairoby “Nairo” Quezada at the age of 15. Nairo was 20 during this time. In his statement is a gallery of screenshots that includes a graphic conversation with an anonymous friend explaining how he performed oral sex on Quezada in 2017. After the relations, Nairo and his brother began sending Lauth money using a fake name on PayPal to refrain him from speaking on the interaction.
Last year, there was a scandal regarding Captain Zack and Elliot Bastien “Ally” Carroza-Oyarce where Lauth admitted to throwing matches to Ally as well as being in an underage relationship with Carroza being twice his age. This made Nairo fear that their situation would also come to light leading to the hush money. Zack stated that his intent was not to out Nairo but to stop living behind lies.
Quezada made a statement earlier today owning up to everything he did and apologized for his behavior ending it with, “I failed you all. I am sorry.” His sponsor NRG cut ties with Nairo following the news. This led to other Smash pros worrying about the mental state of Nairo after he sent Ezra “Samsora” Morris two messages. The first being “Goodbye Ezra,” and the second being “Sorry.”
— Nairo (@NairoMK) July 2, 2020
I’ve been just staring at the message
First time Nairo ever addressed me by my first name pic.twitter.com/v5hr8hNUvz
— eU Samsora (@Samsora_) July 2, 2020
There have been many other claims of pedophilia, including Keitaro who was accused of having sex with a then 16-year-old fully knowing of her age. The woman known as Sandy spoke on the interaction after an anonymous Twitter user called Keitaro out about it without Shiva’s consent. Keitaro responded to the allegations admitting to everything, explaining that he invited her over to a party where there was alcohol where they drank together, leading to her sexually touching him until she initiated intercourse.
He stated, “…I’m fucking stupid for going along with this. Kept thinking ‘okay, this is happening and shouldn’t, but it’ll def not go any further’ although it was already very bad. After some time she put her other hand in the pool and I wasn’t sure what she was doing until I felt me inside of her. I yelled ‘what are you doing!!??’ but didn’t stop anything afterwards.” Keitaro has since deactivated his Twitter.
Smash the Record 2016
Read: https://t.co/a7KJn9ig3d
— KTDominate (@KTDominate) July 2, 2020
D’Ron “D1” Maingrette, arguably the most well-known commentator in competitive Smash was accused of rape in November of 2016 at Smash the Record in Orlando by a woman named Kaitlyn (KTDominate on Twitter) saying that she got drunk, left her friends to go back to D1’s hotel room and woke up to him penetrating her, vomiting, and waking up the next morning. It wasn’t until EVO 2017 where D1 supposedly gave a forced apology from Kaitlyn’s boyfriend who was, at the time, Jestise “MVD” Negron. In response to the accusation, D1 explained that he woke up alone in his room and was unable to recollect what happened that night requiring him to get information from other people as to what occurred.
Apology to KTDominate
Read: https://t.co/ZxUIqeuJN3
— (@xD1x) July 2, 2020
“I couldn’t consent to the act on my part, and everyone that knows me knows that I am not that kind of person. MVD was a great mediator and assisted with setting up the opportunity to clear the air. I could not provide a truth beyond what happened prior and after her being in my hotel room, all I could do was validate her feelings and apologize in the end,” said Maingrette. “As a figurehead in the community, I understand that there is no excuse for my behaviors, and I understand that they were wrong. I should have never gotten so drunk that I couldn’t remember these events in the first place.”
After D1’s apology, MVD shared a screenshot showing that D1 had no interest in apologizing to Kaitlyn initially saying, “I’m good fam, I wouldn’t press the situation any further.” Maingrette was also accused by a different woman named Daycia, who shared how he slept naked in the same bed without asking and stop talking to her after she rejected sleeping with him. D1 has yet to make a statement regarding this accusation.
So, to clear some stuff on this
1. We did not start dating until 7 months later
2. You cried and sobbed in my arms multiple times begging for forgiveness, even tho I was not the person to apologize to
3. If you claim to not know anything why say this?(2 weeks after said incident) https://t.co/4CKy3vZmiV pic.twitter.com/Lseng6Hpwy— MVD @ Quarantine (@MVD731) July 2, 2020
These are just a few of the many allegations that are taking place across the community, but every story matters. For those interested, you can find a list of members and sources who have been accused throughout this time in this Reddit thread.
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