Blizzard has suspended a Hearthstone player for voicing support for the Hong Kong protests during a post-match interview. Blizzard has kicked Ng Wai Chung (Blitzchung) out of the Grandmasters tournament, stripped him of the $10,000 he had already won in the tournament, and banned him from tournament play for a year for showing and voicing support for the Hong Kong protests against China’s Communist government.

To make it worse, Blizzard has suspended the two casters who conducted the interview.

As someone who has been playing Blizzard’s games for 25 years, this is disappointing, and Blizzard fans in the west are universally outraged. So if Chung had come out in favor of China’s Communist government, would Blizzard have been as harsh in their punishment?

Does the fact that Tencent, a Chinese corporation, has a 5% ownership stake in Blizzard factor into this decision?

Blizzard’s official rules state:

“Engaging in any act that, in Blizzard’s sole discretion, brings you into public disrepute, offends a portion or group of the public, or otherwise damages Blizzard image will result in removal from Grandmasters and reduction of the player’s prize total to $0 USD, in addition to other remedies which may be provided for under the Handbook and Blizzard’s Website Terms.”

Standing up for freedom apparently is something that Blizzard feels damages their image. Then the question has to be asked, damages their image in the eyes of players and fans, or damages their interest in the eyes of their Chinese investors and business interests?

Chung, to his credit, stands by his actions, even though it cost him $10,000, plus however much money his one-year ban will cost him from not being able to participate in future tournaments.

“As you know there are serious protests in my country now. My call on stream was just another form of participation of the protest that I wish to grab more attention. I put so much effort in that social movement in the past few months, that I sometimes couldn’t focus on preparing my Grandmaster match. I know what my action on stream means. It could cause me lot of trouble, even my personal safety in real life. But I think it’s my duty to say something about the issue.”

Good for him.

Blizzard is rightfully being tarred and feathered on social media for this bizarre, and you could argue, downright immoral treatment of one of their pro Hearthstone players. They have some explaining to do. Their subreddit has been shut down as well. They’re taking a PR beating and they deserve it. If they don’t correct this, there should be protests outside of Blizzard headquarters in Irvine, CA in support of Chung to get the point across.

This is inexcusable. Make it right, Blizzard.