Riot cuts Bwipo from Worlds 2025 anthem, scrubs Americas cameo days before premiere

Why this move from Riot actually matters

Worlds anthems have become part of League of Legends’ yearly ritual-somewhere between hype machine and community time capsule. From “Warriors” to “Phoenix” to last year’s “GODS,” these videos don’t just sell a tournament; they showcase the faces of the scene. That’s why Riot delaying the Worlds 2025 music video to cut FlyQuest toplaner Gabriel “Bwipo” Rau-after he served a team suspension for sexist comments-landed like a thunderclap a week before the show starts.

This caught my attention because last-minute edits on a global promo aren’t minor tweaks. Riot says removing Bwipo required “significant changes” and, because he was the Americas representative, the region won’t appear in the video as planned. That’s a huge statement: not a competitive sanction (Bwipo will still play at Worlds), but a brand and community line in the sand about who gets platformed in the sport’s most visible cultural artifact.

Key Takeaways

• Riot delayed the Worlds 2025 music video to October 13 to remove Bwipo after his sexist remarks and suspension.
• Because Bwipo was the on-screen Americas rep, the region won’t appear in the video this year.
• This isn’t a competitive punishment—Bwipo still plays at Worlds—but it is a statement about representation.
• The decision sets a precedent for how player conduct can impact Riot’s flagship promotional content.

Breaking down the announcement

Riot’s post spells it out: “The Worlds Music Video will now launch on October 13… Bwipo was featured in the original cut, but given his recent comments, we decided it wouldn’t be right to showcase him in a piece that represents LoL Esports, pro players, and fans.” They add that the late-stage edit means the Americas won’t appear “as originally intended,” and stress this wasn’t part of any sanction or competitive ruling.

Timeline-wise, the video was reportedly 48 hours from premiering on Friday, October 10, before the pivot. Now it lands Monday, October 13—literally the eve of Worlds’ opening—with the grand final set for November 9. That compressed window means whatever we see on Monday is almost certainly a heavy re-cut, not a replacement cameo shoot. If you’re wondering “why not swap in another NA, LLA, or CBLOL player?”—logistics, contracts, and VFX constraints at this stage make that a non-starter.

Why this matters beyond one cameo

Riot’s decision reads as a values play more than a rules one—and that tracks with the company’s recent posture. After Riot faced a high-profile gender discrimination lawsuit that settled in 2021, the studio has worked to present a more inclusive image. Keeping a player who recently made sexist comments front-and-center in the year’s flagship video would undermine that message, apology or not. It’s the difference between “you can compete” and “we will spotlight you as a face of the sport.”

From a fan perspective, it’s also a gut check on how much these anthems matter. On the one hand, the song and video are a vibe-setter, a shared ritual that brings regions together. On the other, the games are what count. Bwipo will still be broadcast to millions on stage. Riot’s line is essentially: the field of play is meritocratic; the promotional pedestal is earned and conditional.

Cutting the Americas entirely stings. North America is already the butt of Worlds memes, and removing the region’s visual moment won’t help morale for LCS diehards, CBLOL fanatics, or LLA faithful. But if the edit required ripping out a spine-thread sequence—think tracking shots, bespoke VFX, or narrative beats built around a single player—you either rebuild the whole thing (impossible in days) or accept a conspicuous hole. Riot chose the clean cut over a patchwork fix.

The gamer’s perspective: hype vs. accountability

As someone who watches Worlds religiously, I’m of two minds. Worlds anthems are cultural markers—players like Faker, Uzi, and Caps becoming larger-than-life in a three-minute sprint. Losing the Americas cameo breaks that tradition a bit. But I also get the call: the anthem is a banner moment for new fans, partners, and the broader gaming world. If you can’t stand behind everyone on screen, you shouldn’t run it.

What I’m watching for on Monday is whether the edit compromises the flow. Past anthems have told tight mini-stories; if this one suddenly jumps regions or leans harder into animation and less into player cameos, we’ll know why. I’m also curious whether FlyQuest or Bwipo address the removal before the opening matches. The absence of comment so far isn’t surprising—but silence won’t stop the discourse.

Looking ahead

Expect this to become the new baseline: player conduct can determine who shows up in Riot’s prestige promos. That doesn’t mean retroactive bans or competitive rulings—just a clearer separation between eligibility to play and eligibility to represent the scene’s public face. It also puts pressure on future productions to have contingency plans. If a cameo carries risk, build modular sequences so you can swap without nuking a whole region’s spotlight.

For fans? Don’t over-index on the anthem drama. The video now drops October 13, and the real story starts the next day on stage. Whether you’re backing LCS, CBLOL, LLA, or anyone else—results will drown out the timeline in about five minutes of first blood.

TL;DR

Riot delayed the Worlds 2025 music video to cut Bwipo after his sexist comments, and the Americas cameo went with it. It’s not a competitive sanction—it’s a statement about who Riot platforms on the sport’s biggest stage. The video premieres October 13; the matches will decide the rest.