Why did Riot censor the new Akali emote? We can explain

The decision by Riot Games to censor a controversial Akali emote prior to its release has fans split on the decision.

League of Legends is famed for many things, and a toxic playing environment has ever been the bane of the game’s reputation. Even with mainstream hits like the streaming series Arcane, one of the most enduring jokes in the community is to “save” players from League of Legends multiplayer by getting them to stop playing entirely. While fans typically make these jokes lightheartedly, recent events sparked more tangible consequences. 

It all began when fans saw the upcoming custom emote from League of Legends esports team 100 Thieves. The emote featured Akali with a smug expression and a gesture where she pinches her thumb and pointer finger mockingly. While the emote amused many players, others reacted more fervently than Riot anticipated.

Why did Riot censor the Akali emote?

Players accused the new Akali emote of mocking the player’s masculinity, thanks in no small part to the suggestive gesture.  While 100 Thieves and the emote’s artist never clarified the emote’s exact meaning, many players were quick to project their own onto it. The gesture brought to mind the miming of a certain part of the male form, and questioning a player’s masculinity along with it.

Some players countered that the emote may imply something else. One popular interpretation believes the emote simply means “you were this close to winning,” which would fit with the competitive nature of League of Legends. While the emote implied a lack of size for some, the controversy certainly didn’t stay small for long.

The conversation moved to more hefty accusations when some fans shared alleged images of Korean men complaining about the emote on social media. The implications are self-explanatory and added a potentially uncomfortable layer onto the controversy for Riot Games to consider.

Eventually, the Akali emote was changed to show Akali cupping her hand to her ear mockingly. The spirit of the emote changed, yet the decision still sparked controversy.

Some players felt the change was unnecessary, while others believed it was worth it to stop the discourse. Moderators quickly locked the Reddit thread discussing the change. Some blamed Korean fans specifically for the change, while others accused those players of generalizing.

Regardless of the final decision, the Akali emote situation did little to curb the reputation of League of Legends as a toxic environment.