Riot Games apologises to Karmine Corp and Kyeahoo after broadcast chat incident

Callum Mercer, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 13/04/2026

Riot Games has formally apologised to Karmine Corp and Kang ‘Kyeahoo’ Yea-hoo after an inappropriate chat message was shown on the official League of Legends broadcast during KC’s match against Team Heretics.

The Broadcast Incident quickly drew backlash across the Esports community, with fans questioning how the message made it onto the live feed at a moment when Karmine Corp were returning to LEC action after a short break.

What the incident involved

According to reporting from Sheep Esports, the message appeared during the April 12 LEC 2026 Spring Split series between Team Heretics and Karmine Corp.

The comment shown on stream referenced Kyeahoo with an offensive pun, and the broadcast displayed it to viewers before production cut away.

Sheep Esports reported that the message was tied to an observer chat line rather than player communication, which is why the incident landed so heavily with fans. Casters Robert ‘Dagda’ Price and Aaron ‘Medic’ Chamberlain reportedly distanced themselves from it immediately on air, while Karmine Corp CEO Kamel ‘Kameto’ Kebir criticised the mistake live on stream.

The timing also mattered competitively. KC had just returned to the stage and swept Heretics 2-0, continuing the strong form the organisation showed earlier this year in the LEC Versus 2026 final against G2 Esports.

A recurring concern in League of Legends esports

This will not come as a surprise to those who have followed the scene closely.

Broadcast professionalism has become a recurring issue across top-level League of Legends and wider Esports production, especially when live tools pull in messages or assets that require tight editorial control.

That is part of why this incident travelled so quickly.

It landed in an ecosystem already under scrutiny over standards and conduct, as seen in broader conversations around discrimination issues in EMEA LoL esports and in other organisational responses to abuse, including Fnatic taking action over online abuse.

Riot issues apology

Riot Games, via the official LEC account, issued a public Apology shortly after the incident.

In a statement cited by Sheep Esports and echoed across social media, Riot said: “An inappropriate chat message was shown in error during today’s LEC broadcast. This message should not have aired.”

Riot added that it wanted “to apologize to Karmine Corp, Kyeahoo, and to fans for this mistake” and said it had “taken the appropriate steps to ensure this won’t happen again.”

According to reporting and public posts tracked on X, Medic also said he had escalated the issue and that the message was “in no way representative” of his views.

Riot has not publicly detailed any disciplinary measures beyond that statement, at the time of writing.

For now, the immediate question is simple: whether Riot Games follows this Apology with visible production changes before the next major League of Legends broadcast involving Karmine Corp and Kyeahoo.

Callum Mercer, Senior Editor

Callum “Cal” Mercer is a UK-based esports journalist covering competitive titles across the LEC, VCT, and global Counter-Strike circuits. With a background in broadcast production and data analysis, he specialises in tactical breakdowns, roster strategy, and the business dynamics shaping modern professional gaming.

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