LEC Apologizes for ‘Inappropriate Message’ Shown on Broadcast
The LEC (League of Legends European Championship) has issued an apology for displaying an inappropriate chat message during its Spring Week 3 broadcast. The incident occurred during Game 2 of the matchup between Karmine Corp and Team Heretics.
The LEC broadcast features a system that displays selected messages from its YouTube and Twitch chat audiences directly on screen, appearing above the bottom HUD along with the username of the person who sent the message. During the second game of the series—with Karmine Corp already leading 1-0 and maintaining a strong position—the message “NETENKYEAHOO!!!” was broadcast to viewers following a successful team engagement where Karmine Corp executed a dive on Heretics players Théo ‘Sheo’ Borile and Noah ‘Wags’ Wagberg.
The broadcast of this message prompted the LEC to issue a formal apology, acknowledging it as inappropriate content that should not have been shown to the audience. The incident highlights ongoing challenges broadcasters face when integrating live chat features into their productions, as the volume of messages and rapid pace of chat can make moderation difficult. While the LEC includes chat messages as a way to engage viewers and create a more interactive broadcast experience, this incident demonstrates the risks of showcasing unfiltered audience content in real-time productions.
The organization has not detailed specific measures it plans to implement to prevent similar incidents in the future, but the apology suggests the LEC is taking the matter seriously and reviewing its moderation practices.