In an increasingly polarized online landscape, esports has not been immune to the rise of harassment,
discrimination, and hate speech across social media platforms. Women have long faced barriers in a scene often criticized for misogynistic attitudes, but recent years have also seen growing hostility directed at other groups and communities.
From homophobia,
transphobia, racism, and other forms of targeted abuse, online harassment has taken on new forms and reached new targets, raising questions about how effectively the industry is responding and what more can be done to foster a safer environment for players and communities alike.
In an exclusive interview with
Sheep Esports, former LEC player and
openly gay professional midlaner
discussed the recent wave of social media harassment,
notably directed at teams such as SK Avarosa—a situation that echoes similar incidents
involving Solary Académie in 2025. Beyond the discussion surrounding online harassment, Eika also reflected on his career, his recent break from competition, and what the future may hold for him.
How are you doing, and how have you been taking in your break?
Jérémy "Eika" Valdenaire : “Overall, I'm doing pretty well, honestly.
I didn't necessarily realize it at the time, but I’ve played for ten years straight without really taking a break, and in the end, I think I needed one. Not necessarily to “recharge my batteries,” but more to refocus mentally. So yes, I'm doing well. I could have played in Winter, but looking back, I actually think taking time for myself was a very good thing.
And now, potentially for Summer, I might have the opportunity to make a comeback. A little leak for the interview, but there's a chance I'll be back, whether as a player or even a coach—ideally as a player.
You said this break has done you good in hindsight. Specifically, how has it helped?
Eika: Honestly, it allowed me to take a step back and reflect on my past experiences. Esports is a pretty unique environment: the seasons are intense, fairly long, and most importantly, they're never the same. You constantly have to adapt from one year to the next.
So yes, taking a step back has been very beneficial. Mentally, I think I really needed it. For the past ten years, I was constantly working. I was always thinking about the game and never really allowed myself to take time off or go on vacation.
Now, I do a lot more activities. I go out more, I go swimming... I do things I've wanted to do for a long time but never made time for before. Even though I play a bit less solo queue, it feels good. I'm simply a lot happier.
With your experience, do you think younger players sometimes invest too much of themselves into esports at the expense of everything else?
Eika: I think so, yes. If you'd asked me ten years ago, I was exactly that kind of player. I played a ton, ate pretty poorly, and didn't really pay attention to what was happening around me.
When you're young, you're living your dream. You're getting paid to do what you love, so it's difficult to gain perspective. There's also pressure that can come from teammates or organizations, with this idea that you always have to perform at your best because you can be replaced very quickly.
“Esports moves fast. Sometimes one bad season is enough for offers to disappear and for you to quickly fall off the radar.”
I'm fortunate enough to have been around for a long time and to have built a name for myself in the scene. Even if I stop playing for a while, I know recruiters will still think of me. But when you're young, you don't necessarily have that privilege.
As a result, you feel like you constantly need to prove yourself, grind solo queue, and always do more. I think that's where things become a bit unhealthy: this constant desire to push yourself further and further.
Unlike many traditional sports, we don't really have an immediate physical limit that forces us to stop. You can play all day and convince yourself that's normal, when in reality it might not be.
You'll soon be turning 30. How are you approaching that milestone, both personally and in relation to your career?
Eika: The thing that's probably the most intimidating is knowing that, in a way, you're entering the later stages of your career. Obviously, I'm not going to keep playing for another fifteen years, so you know you're more on a downward slope than in a phase of growth. But what worries me most isn't really my playing career—it's what comes after.
Fortunately, as a player, I feel like I've developed other qualities over the years, both as a person and as a competitor. That's actually what I love about League of Legends: you can always improve, whether it's in-game or on a personal level. The game constantly evolves, so there's always something new to learn.
“Honestly, I don't feel my age at all when it comes to performance.”
My priorities may have changed, and I've come to better understand the importance of personal well-being, but I don't feel any particular limitations. Sometimes you just want to dedicate time to other things. Our profession remains very demanding: you play six days a week, have little vacation time, and operate in an extremely competitive—and therefore stressful—environment. Over the long term, that can be exhausting.
The move to three splits and the increase in competitions have significantly expanded the ERL calendar. As someone who experienced the old formats, do you think the schedule has become excessive, especially in ERLs where players invest enormous amounts of time without always being compensated accordingly?
Eika: When you're a professional player, having too many breaks can also become frustrating. But this year, for example, the top LFL teams are playing an incredible amount. It feels like they've been playing important matches almost every week since January. Over eight months, that's a really demanding pace with relatively few real breaks. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me at all if, by the end of the year, they've played more games than most LEC teams.
That being said, I think players generally prefer playing. I'm the same way. If you play a tournament and then have two months off afterward, it gets boring. You can take vacations, of course, but sometimes you also feel like you're not accomplishing much. Competition always brings a sense of fulfillment, so I think it's mostly about finding the right balance. I get the feeling Riot is still looking for the ideal formula.
You mentioned a possible return to competition, but also opportunities within coaching staffs. What would you think about transitioning into a coaching role?
Eika: Esports is still an industry that evolves constantly. In terms of financial security, it's not necessarily the most reassuring field. Coaching is something I've thought about for a long time. I'm not sure yet whether it's something I'd enjoy doing full-time.
About a month ago, I created
a Discord server and coached around twenty people individually. It turned out to be something I really enjoyed. I felt like I was helping people, and it's very rewarding when they come back and tell me they've gone from Gold to Platinum or Emerald thanks to some of my advice.
That said, I think what I enjoy most is working one-on-one. I'm not sure I necessarily see myself as the head coach of a competitive team. I think I'd be capable of doing it, but I'm not certain it's what would suit me best. On the other hand, a more specialized role—working with solo laners or mid laners, for example—would probably appeal to me much more.
I enjoy doing a lot of different things, but esports remains what I'm most passionate about and what I've dedicated most of my life to. I don't necessarily plan too far ahead; I prefer taking things one day at a time.
Of course, I think about what's next. There are several directions I could take, but I'll have to see what genuinely makes me happy. When you've made a living from your passion for ten years, the idea that one day it could all come to an end and you'd have to reinvent yourself in a career that might not excite you as much is a pretty unique thing to think about.
Since coming out at the end of 2023, you've become an important figure for the LGBTQIA+ community in esports, particularly by speaking publicly on several issues. Do you feel a certain responsibility because of that, and was it something you considered at the time?
Eika: I don't know if having that image of a flag-bearer is particularly important to me. However, when I decided to come out publicly, it was definitely something I thought about.
“I knew it was going to have an impact.”
And if I chose to do it publicly, it wasn't because I wanted to become a spokesperson. It was more about showing that there was someone in the scene who could talk openly about these topics, someone who was present, comfortable with who they were, and not afraid to speak up.
In the end, I think that was really my goal: to bring a bit of visibility and show that it's possible to talk about these things naturally.
Over the past few years, we've seen a rise in intolerance, homophobia, and transphobia, to cite a few, on social media. You previously mentioned the normalization of hateful rhetoric as one of the reasons that pushed you to come out. How do you view the current atmosphere, which many people see as becoming increasingly problematic within esports?
Eika: The main issue is that everything in esports goes through social media. Since these platforms are accessible to everyone—which is normal—they can attract a lot of hate, including from people who aren't even part of the ecosystem. As a result, you can become a target very easily. All it takes is for a public figure associated with a hateful movement to quote-retweet you or talk about you, and suddenly a huge number of people can pile on.
There's a herd effect. People feel more justified doing the same because they see others doing it. It creates a vicious cycle, a form of collective harassment.
For me, it's something that's genuinely difficult to understand. I even struggle to find the words because I find it so extreme.
“I don't understand how people can be so... stupid, so intolerant.”
People get involved in topics they know nothing about, topics they have no information on, and think they can simply give their opinion, bring more people into it, and in the end all they're doing is spreading hatred. Sometimes it's exhausting, but above all, it's sad.
Do you think there are concrete solutions today to combat this rise in intolerance and hate within esports and on social media?
Eika: That's kind of the million-euro question, because it's incredibly difficult to solve. These are issues that exist in esports, in traditional sports, and in society in general. At its core, it's a matter of education and basic respect. Honestly, there isn't a miracle solution.
But I do think we need to talk about these things, and not sweep them under the rug. When there are problems, people within the scene need to be able to speak up, receive support, and remain united.
“The most important thing is not to divide ourselves.”
People outside the community are already attacking us as it is, so if we start attacking each other as well, it simply doesn't work. So yes, we need to talk about it and not let these things slide—whether it's misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, racism, or any other form of hatred directed at others.
Do you think organizations, teams, and tournament organizers have a role to play in addressing these issues, and do you think they're currently doing enough?
Eika: Yes and no. At the end of the day, changing your company logo for a month and adding a rainbow doesn't really change much. And honestly, organizations don't even pretend anymore—they've completely stopped doing that.
But I think the people behind these organizations are affected by the current climate. These companies are afraid of the backlash. If they show support, they know they could become targets themselves. I find that sad because it shows just how serious the situation has become.
“If we let hatred dictate our choices, we're heading straight into a wall.”
Do you think toxicity on social media and within the scene can affect players to the point of discouraging them or even preventing them from pursuing esports?
Eika: Overall, I think that if you love esports and want to become a player, you'll still play. However, I think your first instinct as a player will be to hide. It's sad to say, but that's the reality. You know perfectly well that you can receive torrents of hate for absolutely no reason.
So yes, it can absolutely be discouraging. There are definitely players who aren't out and who deal with this silently. In the end, it's just sad and awful.
With your experience, what advice or message would you give to players going through these situations or who are hesitant to be open about who they are within the esports scene?
Eika: It really depends on the person and their circumstances. We all have different situations.
For me, I had already reached a point in my career where I had an established name in the scene. So I probably wouldn't have faced as much discrimination because there would have been significant backlash against organizations or players who acted that way. If you're less well-known, I think it can be much more intimidating.
Ultimately, the most important thing is to be yourself and take all the time you need. Accepting yourself is already a huge step. And it's not necessarily important to make a public coming out. If you're comfortable with yourself, that's already huge.
Generally speaking, I'm quite a positive person, and I think it's important to have faith in people as well. Of course, you need to be careful and know how to judge situations, especially within teams, but...
“… I think people can sometimes surprise you.”
Often in esports, many people don't really know much about the LGBTQIA+ community. They haven't necessarily been exposed to it. So sometimes it's not hatred—it's ignorance.
By talking about these issues, we can also help change things. For example, after I came out, people on my teams often asked me questions simply because they weren't informed.
Any ending thoughts?
Eika: Be kind, be happy, and I love you all. That's it.”
