FaZe Clan is “gently” trying to continue the conversation with Epic Games about Jarvis Kaye’s Fortnite ban, according to the organisation’s CEO and co-owner Lee Trink.
The 17-year-old, who is signed to FaZe as a content creator, was permanently banned from the battle royale game last month after he made a YouTube video using aimbot on an alternate account. As he didn’t use the cheat in a competitive setting, Trink says Epic took things too far.
“It was brutal, it was tough, but it’s also important to be sensitive to Epic’s issues,” Trink tells The Verge on Vergecast. “Do I feel like it was too far? I do. It’s their decision to make, not ours. I respect their rules but I’m sympathetic to a 17-year-old kid who doesn’t cheat during a competition, he makes a video which he believes is going to be entertaining, doesn’t hide anything – this is not something that was done in a dark corner or a room, this was done in broad daylight.
“He even says during the video, ‘don’t do this you’re going to get banned immediately’. I’m hopeful with time that things will change. We support Jarvis, and while we don’t support what he did, he’s certainly contrite.
“We are gently trying to continue the conversation, but it’s important to be respectful.”
It’s unlikely that Epic will revoke the ban, but given that FaZe is one of the biggest esports organisations in the world, who knows, #FreeJarvis might be successful.
