Recently, the Japanese company Honda Motors officially terminated its six-year partnership with Team Liquid after an incident with a Rainbow Six Siege player. Brazilian player Lucas “DiasLucasBr” Dias posted a GIF with a nuclear explosion on social media after the defeat of the Japanese team CAG Osaka, searching for “blew up” to joke about his team's “explosion”. Later, he deleted the post and apologized to his rivals, but it did not save the situation.

Honda's reaction: The decision to terminate

Honda stated that the incident with the post, which touched on the sensitive topic of the 1945 bombing of Hiroshima, contradicted the company's corporate values. In its statement, Honda expressed regret for the six years of cooperation and said:

We deeply apologize for any discomfort caused by this incident and remain committed to supporting positive initiatives in gaming.

Honda 

The company also terminated its sponsorship, considering the behavior incompatible with its principles.

Team Liquid's actions: Fines and training

Team Liquid responded to the situation by acknowledging the mistake of DiasLucasBr, who did not intend to offend, but was only looking for an “emotional” image. The organization announced that the player would receive a fine of four months' salary (approximately $48,000-$60,000), undergo additional media and sensitivity training, but would remain on the team. All the prize money from the Reload tournament will be donated to a charity, and within six months, all players and coaches will be retrained using this case as a case study.

Context and community reaction

The incident occurred after a match against CAG Osaka, and while the Japanese players accepted DiasLucasBr's apology, criticism from Japanese fans forced Honda to act. Team Liquid emphasized that it was a “mistake in the moment” and not a deliberate attack, but acknowledged the damage done to the Japanese community. The organization apologized to fans in Japan and promised to restore trust through action.

Impact on Team Liquid and the future

The loss of a sponsor who had supported the team for six years could affect Team Liquid's financial position. However, the organization emphasized its readiness to learn from mistakes and preserve its reputation. This case has raised questions about the responsibility of players on social media and may affect future sponsorship deals in eSports.