Fortnite pro leaves team after accusations of racist vitriol

A Fortnite pro parted ways with his team following an argument with another pro that involved racist invective.

Erik “Bloodx” Guttormsen, of Norway, lost his seat with Eleven Gaming (E11) after the row with Ghost Gaming’s Issa “Issa” Rahim, a Swiss-born Iraqi, over the latter’s skill at playing without aim assist in Fortnite. Rahim posted to Twitter a video of himself playing without it, provoking a lot of guff in his mentions. Guttormsen joined the argument, and Rahim replied with a screenshot image of a Discord argument in which Guttormsen was shown using a racist slur.

Guttormsen yesterday accused Rahim of “intentionally try[ing] to ruin my name and career,” and denied he is racist, but nonetheless said he was leaving Eleven Gaming. Guttormsen said he did so “so this no longer negatively impacts anyone associated with me.”

“I will be fighting hard to put respect back into my name,” Guttormsen said. Two minutes later, E11 said it had parted ways with Guttormsen “effective immediately.”

Guttormsen’s only tournament appearance for E11 since joining in November was a 40th place in solos competition at the ESL’s Katowice Royale on March 1. He had been the eighth player to join the squad, formed by Zach Hyman, the NHL player who became chief executive of SoaR Gaming in March when that organization and E11 joined forces.

In unaffiliated play, Guttormsen’s best finishes have been second places in duos play in the EU Summer Skirmish series back in August, and at DreamHack Summer 2018. He most recently placed 41st in unaffiliated duos play with Kevin “Tohaj” Batic of Slovenia in Week 10 of the 2019 Fortnite World Cup.

Though Guttormsen’s supporters accused Rahim of faking the screenshot, which he denied, adding that Guttormsen repeatedly used the slur “in a call” and “so many pros” could verify that.