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Riot Games has delayed the release of the League of Legends Worlds 2025 anthem following a last-minute decision to remove FlyQuest player Gabriël “Bwipo” Rau from the official music video. The highly anticipated song, originally set to debut on October 10, will now release on Monday, October 13.

According to Riot, the delay was necessary to make “last-minute edits” after the removal of Bwipo, who was originally featured to represent the Americas region. His exclusion reportedly caused portions of the video to be reworked, resulting in the entire region being left out of this year’s anthem.

“This was not part of any sanction or competitive ruling, but a decision about how we represent our sport and community on a global stage,” Riot said in its statement.

Why Riot Cut Bwipo from the Video

The move follows Bwipo’s recent suspension by FlyQuest after making sexist remarks on stream. During a livestream, the Belgian player commented that there are certain times “in the month where you should not be playing competitive games as a woman,” a statement that quickly drew widespread criticism across the League of Legends community.

While Bwipo later apologised and clarified that his words were not meant to be sexist, the backlash was swift. Riot’s decision to cut him from the Worlds anthem wasn’t a disciplinary action, but rather a conscious choice to align the company’s public image with its stated values of respect and inclusivity.

For Riot, which has spent years turning the Worlds anthem into an annual global celebration, including the player in this year’s video “wouldn’t be right” given the controversy.

Community Split Over Riot’s Decision

The reaction online has been divided. Many fans supported Riot’s stance, arguing that the company should uphold the principles it promotes within esports. Others, however, criticised the move as hypocritical, pointing out that Riot continues to maintain commercial ties with the Saudi-backed Esports World Cup, an event funded by the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has faced ongoing criticism for its human rights record.

Twitter user Glaivz summed up the sentiment for many detractors.

Meanwhile, others joked about the situation, with one user quipping that Bwipo “cancelled whole NA,” referencing how the Americas’ representation was entirely cut from the video.

The Anthem Tradition Continues

Despite the controversy, the Worlds 2025 anthem remains one of the most anticipated parts of the annual League of Legends calendar. Since 2014’s Warriors by Imagine Dragons, each Worlds anthem has served as a rallying cry for players and fans alike, from Legends Never Die to Rise and GODS.

This year’s song marks the twelfth instalment in the series and will be performed by Gloria Tang Sze-wing, better known as G.E.M., one of the biggest stars in Chinese pop music and a major figure across the Greater China region.

Though the delay has disappointed some fans, anticipation remains high for the video’s debut on October 13, which will celebrate the 15th anniversary of Worlds. Beyond the music, however, the incident has once again highlighted how Riot Games continues to navigate the tricky balance between community values, player behaviour, and global partnerships in the ever-growing esports scene.