When your favourite VALORANT player steps into the spotlight, they rarely step there alone. Behind every in-game name is a circle of people who celebrate quietly, worry privately, and feel the ripple effects of public scrutiny far more than most viewers realise.
A couple of weeks ago, Fnatic played two gruelling best-of-fives and missed their chance to qualify for the first global event of the year. They were one round away - multiple times. It was sad. It sucked. And fans were right to feel disappointed.
But does that disappointment give anyone the right to tell me, Boaster’s roommate and life partner, to kill myself?
It sounds ludicrous when you say it out loud. Surely she’s exaggerating? Surely that didn’t happen?
It did. And it’s not even close to the worst of the filth and obscenity I’ve had the displeasure of reading over the years.
At the start, I couldn’t handle it. I didn’t understand why people were being so cruel about someone I knew to be kind, loving, and relentlessly hardworking. I responded to the perpetrators. I cried when it got particularly bad. Eventually, I grew numb to the constant harassment. I began bracing myself after every game, even when Fnatic won.
Imagine walking up to a total stranger on the street and, without so much as a greeting, launching into a verbal tirade about how their boyfriend, husband, or partner is a disgrace at their job and should be fired immediately. You have no real understanding of what their profession entails, yet you demand reparations and casually suggest they deserve something close to death.
You’d get your ass beaten for that kind of behaviour. No doubt about it.
Now, despite having been in a few fisticuffs in my lifetime, I have no interest in inciting physical violence over internet hate. What I have developed instead is a quiet sense of hopelessness. It’s futile to try to defend Boaster; the few times I did, it only made things worse.
The best way I can describe the feeling is this pathetic desperation inside me to prove people wrong. Like some twisted science fiction body-horror plot, I sometimes wish I could hijack every nasty commenter and force them to spend just one day with him. I’m convinced that if they simply knew him, if they spoke to him, looked him in the eye before typing, they would never even dream of writing such horrendous things.
Hell, if they spent a couple of hours with me, they wouldn’t dare say those things to me either.
I’m acutely aware of the absurdity of all this. Why am I spending my time writing about how trolls make me feel when I could be doing literally anything else?
The answer is simple: I’m not alone.
In some ways, I’m one of the lucky ones. Yes, Boaster gets hate, but he is also one of the most beloved figures in esports. Don’t worry, Boaster defenders, I see you. I mean, how could I not? Like the Riders of Rohan, the Boaster army is fiercely loyal, and you ride to his defence at every call. For every “Boaster needs to retire,” I see ten “Boaster never retire.” And believe me, he is incredibly grateful.
Not every player is in the same position, though. I guarantee that at one point or another, most of them have been affected by something they’ve read online. It doesn’t take a genius to understand how constant negativity and harassment can wear someone down.
But what about their loved ones? What about their families, their girlfriends, their roommates? I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve interviewed a player after a major win, and all they wanted to do was thank the people who supported them behind the scenes.
I’ve been lucky enough to get to know those people, too. I’ve had coffees, dinners, and day trips. I’ve celebrated milestones with the girlfriends and wives of other players - sometimes right after our partners had played against each other.
So if you don’t mind, I’d like to share their stories and perspectives as well.
One of the most talked-about roster moves of the offseason was Chronicle’s departure from Fnatic. Fans were understandably shocked when he left, but what was even more striking was how quickly the entire VALORANT community formed strong opinions about his transfer to Team Vitality - despite having zero tangible information about why it happened.
I had an inkling that some Fnatic fans would be sad to lose Chron (especially considering they lost Derke to Vitality just twelve months prior), but how can anyone justify the vitriol and baseless accusations he’s still facing four months later? Why are people acting like he did something… wrong?
Yinsu@YinsuCollins
I know it hurts when your favourite player moves or fav team disbands but everyone has their own circumstances and reasons. I can’t speak for everyone but Chron gave so much to all the teams he’s been a part of and I hope you all still cheer for him because he really is the
7:56 PM · Oct 25, 2025 · 201K Views
20 Replies · 176 Reposts · 5.81K Likes
Most of you probably remember that Chronicle was quick to thank his wife, Angelina, when he won LOCK//IN. You’ve likely seen her in the audience, supporting him week in and week out. What you don’t see are the sacrifices they’ve both made for him to pursue a professional career in esports.
Similar to the helplessness and hopelessness I’ve described before, it’s an ongoing battle for Angelina, too.
“Right now, it’s really disappointing for me to read all the tweets about Chron. People like to assume a lot of things, such as ‘Vitality bought everyone’ or spamming ‘didn’t you go to Vitality to win everything?’ They don’t know anything. They don’t know what happened, but they keep hating on him.
It’s very tiring and sad to read all of this. Sometimes I just want to scream at them and say that they’re wrong, but everything should stay private. Spreading hate doesn’t help anyone. I just don’t understand how you can mock someone you don’t even know.
I wish fewer people were hating on players and their decisions. Chronicle and I feel encouraged by the kind words too, and we appreciate every single person who still supports and believes in him.”
Angelina🥴 on Instagram: "💜"
You don’t have to know Chron personally to see that he’s a humorous, joyful human being. There hasn’t been a single controversy in his career, and he’s been part of not one, but two of the most beloved rosters of all time.
I’m not saying anyone deserves to be treated poorly, but if we’re making a list, he should be at the very bottom of it.
I have bad news for anyone who believes that performing well and winning the biggest tournaments in VALORANT somehow shields players from abuse. Because even as a two-time Champions winner, Ethan still has haters.
This is the thing about the esports community, and the internet more broadly: sometimes people hate you harder because of your accomplishments. There’s always someone somewhere praying for your downfall.
Ethan’s success isn’t accidental, though. From my interactions with him, he comes across as self-assured, level-headed, considerate, and deeply compassionate towards those around him. He also has a strong support system, a life partner who’s been with him through every high and low. (Sidenote: Ethan and Kelly’s love story would send the BookTok girlies into another stratosphere.)
✧kel✧@kellysama_
first year of marriage was pogchamp with you 🫶🏼 happy anniversary hubs @ethanarnold 😗
5:49 AM · Nov 3, 2024 · 79.9K Views
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If you want the full picture, it’s worth listening to the woman who sees it all up close.
Kelly shared this:
“I have to say it’s obviously super frustrating and irritating to read the negative things people say about Ethan, especially when I know they’re wrong. I understand that the public speculates and creates their own narratives about what’s happening behind the scenes, especially when things aren’t going well.
I’ve been with Ethan since his early CS:GO days, so I have a lot of experience now regulating my emotions when I read negative comments, LOL. I can’t just go online and start explaining the reasons behind certain comps, specific strats, roster moves, etc., so having to sit here and ‘take it’ while people say negative things about not only Ethan but also people I’m good friends with and care about is pretty messed up.
It feels incredibly validating to read positive comments about him. I know firsthand how great a person, player, friend, and spouse he is, so when people who don’t know him personally can see or feel that too, it makes me so happy. That one positive comment really does negate all the negative ones.”
One of the most decorated players in all of VALORANT is a woman.
Do you understand how impressive that is? To be that respected, that well-loved, and that exceptional at your craft in an environment that often feels structurally designed to work against you.
Mel is a phenomenal role model. I genuinely don’t know how she does it. Even when faced with rampant sexism and relentless setbacks, when all she wants to do is compete (and mind you, she is more than good enough to play on co-ed teams), she refuses to frame herself as a victim. She is unbelievably professional. She stands up for herself and for others with grace. And sometimes I can’t help but feel that people minimise her struggles precisely because she handles them with so much class.
Which is why it was incredibly insightful to hear from her partner, Roy.
ROY@RealStrongLegs
happy national gf day 😙😽😽 seen many versions of you, im excited to see more
1:24 AM · Aug 2, 2025 · 234K Views
10 Replies · 8 Reposts · 2.81K Likes
They both have extensive experience in esports, as players and broadcasters, and I deeply respect the way Roy isn’t afraid to have difficult conversations, either.
When I asked him about what it’s like to stand beside Mel through all of this, he said:
“I think my experience with this facet of our position [as partners of pro players] is pretty complicated, to be honest. On one hand, interacting with the GC/SRG fans has been so cool. They give so much love and support, and it’s been an absolute blast watch-parting with them. Their love and support are definitely felt.
But on the other hand, it’s been quite painful being an observer of Mel’s journey to break into co-ed and Tier 1. A lot of the narratives and online rhetoric about women’s inferiority in gaming have been exhausting. There’s so much misinformation and so many repetitive statements that are completely false and misleading.
People are totally willing to lie, repeat it endlessly, and use any failure of women to justify a toxic opinion. Seeing how much it affects Mel, and feeling absolutely helpless in fighting this rhetoric, is emotionally and mentally exhausting.
It’s genuinely impossible to fight this battle online. If you address it, you provide a platform for these people to group up and amplify themselves. If you ignore it, the cycle continues endlessly. It’s just… zzz.
Some people simply don’t want to see women succeed, and they’re willing to use anything to prove their point that women are inferior. ‘Oh look at this study.’ ‘Show me one woman who’s better than a man at X or Y.’
I genuinely want to see Mel succeed so badly. I want the reality to change. I want the status quo to be challenged. I try to do as much as I can to help her reach that goal.”
These days, there aren’t many players left who were there at the very beginning - the wild, wild west of 2020 VALORANT. You’d think it gets easier for the veterans with time and experience.
Let me tell you: it doesn’t. Not even in Tier Two.
Hoody is one of those OGs. I’ve been lucky enough to watch him succeed on multiple rosters and take on new challenges year after year. I’m also close friends with his wife, which inevitably means I know a little more about what’s going on behind the scenes than the average person. So when I read some of the strangest, most ridiculous takes online, I can completely sympathise with how she must feel reading them too.
Sinommi on Instagram: "got married!!!"
Even as the scene grew more competitive and more hostile, Hoody didn’t give up. He continued to compete at a high level in Tier Two. But the expectations from fans there are no different from the ones in Tier One.
His wife, Sinommi, told me:
“I had to accept the fact that people online like to kick those who are already on the floor more than praise the good things they do. It’s nice to see the support and love, but sometimes it feels like there’s more hate than love.
Reading disappointed fans, cruel haters, and people who just want to say something for the sake of it isn’t easy. Especially after a bad day, after a loss, we have to live those emotions with them and with their teammates.
I remember even when Hoody would win something, qualify for an event, there were always people saying they didn’t believe in them achieving anything. And of course, when he doesn’t play well in a game, people, even the ones who call themselves fans, write about how he doesn’t deserve his spot.
After years of this, I understand how easy it is for people to be mean and cruel behind their keyboards to players like my husband. It’s really hard to see him sad and angry at himself for disappointing fans, but I can’t stop him from reading the comments. They all see them. They all read them.
I’ve found myself feeling helpless many times, watching him lose that spark in his eyes, even cry. There’s nothing I can do or say in those moments. All I can do is be there with him and hope that’s enough.”
One thing she said that really resonated with me was the accumulation of disappointment that comes with this job. You’re constantly placing yourself in the firing line: for fans to be disappointed, whether you win or lose; for you to be disappointed in yourself; and then having to pick yourself back up, only for it to happen again. And again. And again.
It’s such a complex emotional loop.
I still don’t think I’ve figured out a foolproof way to soothe Boaster in those moments either. And maybe there isn’t one.
As someone who grew up in a broken home with an incredibly strict Asian mother, it still feels almost inconceivable to me that some parents are genuinely supportive of a career in gaming - especially from such a young age. I’ve always looked on with a twinge of jealousy, because I never experienced that kind of encouragement or acceptance for my more unconventional interests.
I remember meeting Benjyfishy for the first time. I already knew who he was (I mean, who doesn’t?), but not because of Fortnite. What struck me was how determined he was to go pro in VALORANT, and how immensely kind he was to Boaster. He carried himself with a maturity and pragmatism that later made perfect sense once I learned he’d grown up surrounded by people who truly championed his ambitions.
Over time, I also got to know his mum and brother here and there. (Anne streams on Twitch, too.) We bonded over the shared stress and excitement of competition, and I developed a deep respect for the way they stand behind Benjy, as someone who found fame at such a young age.
Anne Fish@mamabenjyfishy
Bittersweet ending as @TeamHeretics came so close, finishing 2nd at VCT Champions. So proud of Benjy and the team for their incredible run – they gave it their all. 💔 The tears on stage say it all, but I know they’ll come back even stronger in 2025. 🙌 Leaving Seoul with
4:52 PM · Aug 26, 2024 · 32.6K Views
22 Replies · 52 Reposts · 1.29K Likes
There was one moment that really stayed with me. It had absolutely nothing to do with Boaster or me, but I remember a random troll posting photos of the Team Heretics boys crying at Champs as retaliation for something completely harmless said in a content piece. I was furious. It made my blood boil to see someone’s pain weaponised like that. I’ve experienced firsthand how the community can treat players. So imagine what it must feel like for their families.
Anne, however, has been navigating this world for years, and she approaches it with remarkable clarity and poise.
She told me:
“I love watching Benjy and the team play, not just in VALORANT, but also back when he was competing in Fortnite. Social media is always a mixture of highs and lows, and it can be especially hard when results don’t go the way the team hoped, or when you feel scrutinised in what you do yourself.
The nature of esports is that much of the audience is teenagers, and people don’t always think before they post. I’m much more selective now about what I choose to read, which I think you simply have to be.
VALORANT fans can be incredibly supportive, and I love seeing their fan art and the way they stand behind the team. I feel very proud and privileged to watch Benjy do what he loves, and to see the person he continues to grow into along the journey.”
I want to say a massive thank you if you’ve read this far. Writing this was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. In many ways, it reminded me of what I used to write about, back before I ever did on-camera work, when I was a trained journalist covering both traditional sports and esports. I absolutely loved it, and working on this piece felt like revisiting that version of myself.
A huge shout-out to the incredible people who trusted me enough to speak openly about this topic. I genuinely don’t think they get enough credit for being some of the strongest, most supportive individuals I know.
I love you all.
Also, Boaster would like to add:
“When it comes to my professional career, people will inevitably go on social media and say horrible things without realising that my mum is on those platforms too. She obviously gets quite affected by it, and she doesn’t understand why people can be so mean about me.
Just remember that a pro player’s biggest critic will always be themselves. Whenever you’re being hard on them, they’re already being hard on themselves as well.
If you’re going to comment, just take a second to consider the impact of your words.”