Overwatch League desk host Malik Forte has hit back at Atlanta Reign Twitch streamer and former professional Overwatch player Daniel ‘dafran’ Francesca, calling the departing OWL talent an “overrated Gucci brand.”
Dafran retired from competitive play in March 2019, but has remained close with the esport ever since. When he made the comments about Malik and his fellow broadcast talent, he had been browsing the competitive Overwatch subreddit, which prompted his remarks.
He referred to talent – such as Malik, Auguste ‘Semmler’ Massonnat and Christopher ‘MonteCristo’ Mykles – as an “overrated Gucci brand” because of their demands for more pay, and even stated that there are better people for the job that would do it for less.
Forte has worked as a desk host, stage host and reporter with the Overwatch League and within the wider community since 2016, but is evidently seeking pastures new alongside many of his peers.
That said, he didn’t take too kindly to dafran’s comments and pulled him up on it in a tongue-in-cheek tweet, posted on January 14.
“Damn son,” he started. “‘Gucci’? You know how racist they are and how much I don’t like them. You could’ve at least said ‘Lululemon’.”
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@dafran Damn son, "Gucci"? You know how racist they are and how much I don't like them. You could've at least said like "Lululemon" 😂
— Malik 🎤 (@Malik4Play) January 15, 2020
Although this tweet seemed somewhat satirical in nature, a follow-up from Malik was a little more serious, imploring dafran not to “misinform his fans” and that he “doesn’t know anyone’s situation.”
@dafran Real talk tho, don’t misinform ya fans man, you don’t know my or anyone’s situation. Have a lil respect my G
— Malik Forté ? (@Malik4Play) January 15, 2020
Malik was met by criticism from some fans for bringing race into the equation, arguing that it was unnecessary, while others simply laughed at the Lululemon reference while others said that it will be a shame not to have him on broadcasts anymore.
Either way, Malik is obviously done with his work on the Overwatch League for now, but has yet to publicly announce what his next move is.
