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Active: 1564 users

DeMusliM changing Name to DeMu because of Saudis?

Forum Index > SC2 General
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
ot4_AUT
Profile Joined February 2019
6 Posts
Last Edited: 2023-04-29 15:28:14
April 29 2023 14:52 GMT
#1
DeMusliM changed his Name to DeMu.

At first it might look like a normal thing like "growing" up and making an image change, but the timing makes me wonder if it has to do with Saudi Arabia pushing so hard into eSports at the moment with eSports washing.

DeMuslim was forced in the past as player to change his name in tournaments on request by Saudis (no joke!), because they felt offended.

After the Saudis bought ESL, it was the first Katowice SC2 Tournament in years without DeMusliM as caster/expert. Could be a coincidence, but again strange timing, Rotti also was not happy about that, not sure if he knows the real reasons.
It will be very interesting to see if "after" the name change he will be an expert/caster again in Katowice 2024.

Now after the Saudis start pushing more money into eSports (maybe also AoE?) and own ESL they for sure have a say in who is casting what, maybe DeMusliM had to change the name "again" so his career is not taking a hit because of the name.

Of course, we will never get a real answer, but at least it looks like a possibility to me. What are your guys thoughts?
Crocolisk Dundee
Profile Blog Joined October 2015
870 Posts
April 29 2023 15:27 GMT
#2
I noticed the change and thought of this possibility as well.
Stopped watching ESL content in 2022 when the company was acquired by Savvy Gaming Group. Also object to sponsorships by the U.S. Air Force. Thanks for the lively discussions about sportswashing. StarCraft II is not for me anymore.
Philippe
Profile Joined October 2020
354 Posts
Last Edited: 2023-04-29 15:29:39
April 29 2023 15:28 GMT
#3
Won't say for sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is the case. That said I wouldn't understand because he made crystal clear he took the nickname in acknowledgement of the boxer, which shouldn't be a bad sign for the Saudis ?

If there's precedence about name change in his case, then it's not a good look for them ... Staying as neutral as possible in the business side of things, but that one is ludicrous.
I'm just a cynical video game enjoyer who is probably unfazed by many business dealings many would find utterly distasteful, while not strictly illegal by the law as seen in a general sense in the world.
Warcloud
Profile Joined May 2010
United States97 Posts
April 29 2023 15:32 GMT
#4
My thought is, I don't care what his name is. And if Saudi money is paying for esports, I don't think it's unreasonable for them to request this change. Of course it's ridiculous for them to do so, but religion is a ridiculous concept to begin with and the West is no different in that people are forced to change their behavior to accommodate nut jobs.
aringadingding
Profile Joined September 2010
481 Posts
April 29 2023 17:01 GMT
#5
Hmmm, maybe he changed it because of the tourney. The timing indicates that. Not a fan of Demuslim in general, but i like him and i understand he did it if he was "forced" to do it. Since its his livelyhood, and i dont know his situation.
IF, i really want to emphasise IF, he was forced to do it, I am kinda sad. Will a nickname like "christanToss" will be "banned" as well or any other religious prefix? I dont like it. But i feel empathy with demuslim if he was put in a situation of not being able to cast because of his name.
Is demuslim in general a name that people are offended by? I am actually curious about this.
Nirli
Profile Joined February 2023
Bulgaria381 Posts
April 29 2023 18:12 GMT
#6
When he popped up in 2005/2006 in WC3, and I was 13-14 then, I found his nickname extremely odd.
Right now, I still find it extremely odd, and I'm a hardcore atheist.
So maybe this was a long time coming?
InfCereal
Profile Joined December 2011
Canada1759 Posts
April 29 2023 18:37 GMT
#7
I think Demuslim just played the longest con in the history of esports.

This man floated a borderline offensive username for decades and only dropped it after he was (presumably) handed a pile of cash.


Cereal
Nakajin
Profile Blog Joined September 2014
Canada8989 Posts
April 29 2023 18:42 GMT
#8
Idk, maybe it was the saudi, maybe not.

But TBH it's a weird ass name for someone who is not even muslim to use.
Writerhttp://i.imgur.com/9p6ufcB.jpg
aringadingding
Profile Joined September 2010
481 Posts
Last Edited: 2023-04-29 19:02:38
April 29 2023 19:00 GMT
#9
Just out of curiosity, has Ben ever talked about his name or his thoughts on islam or muslims?
Edit: i am an athiest, so i have a hard time understanding things like this
nojok
Profile Joined May 2011
France15846 Posts
April 29 2023 19:34 GMT
#10
On April 30 2023 04:00 aringadingding wrote:
Just out of curiosity, has Ben ever talked about his name or his thoughts on islam or muslims?
Edit: i am an athiest, so i have a hard time understanding things like this

His father was a fan of Cassius Clay/Muhamed Ali, he misunderstood as a child that when Ali became muslim it was actually a sort of super sayen form, not a change of religion, and he choosed this nick and never changed it afterwards.
"Back then teams that won were credited, now it's called throw. I think it's sad." - Kuroky - Flap Flap Wings!
Nakajin
Profile Blog Joined September 2014
Canada8989 Posts
Last Edited: 2023-04-29 20:40:34
April 29 2023 19:58 GMT
#11
On April 30 2023 04:34 nojok wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 30 2023 04:00 aringadingding wrote:
Just out of curiosity, has Ben ever talked about his name or his thoughts on islam or muslims?
Edit: i am an athiest, so i have a hard time understanding things like this

His father was a fan of Cassius Clay/Muhamed Ali, he misunderstood as a child that when Ali became muslim it was actually a sort of super sayen form, not a change of religion, and he choosed this nick and never changed it afterwards.


Huh weird, the story I heared was that he won his nicknamed after beating another C&C guy who had the same nickname
Writerhttp://i.imgur.com/9p6ufcB.jpg
0x64
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
Finland4613 Posts
April 29 2023 20:00 GMT
#12
Do you want to know how I got these scars?
Dump of assembler code from 0xffffffec to 0x64: End of assembler dump.
outscar
Profile Joined September 2014
2832 Posts
April 29 2023 22:13 GMT
#13
First World problems... GSL is dying, you guys talking about an ex-ex 30++ pro who's now caster changing his nickname... Who cares.
sunbeams are never made like me...
Crocolisk Dundee
Profile Blog Joined October 2015
870 Posts
April 29 2023 23:52 GMT
#14
Shoutout to the poster who immediately saw this coming right after Savvy Gaming Group acquired ESL:

On January 24 2022 06:01 luxon wrote:
demuslim sweating right now about his handle choice lol
Stopped watching ESL content in 2022 when the company was acquired by Savvy Gaming Group. Also object to sponsorships by the U.S. Air Force. Thanks for the lively discussions about sportswashing. StarCraft II is not for me anymore.
TossHeroes
Profile Joined February 2022
281 Posts
April 29 2023 23:57 GMT
#15
On April 30 2023 03:37 InfCereal wrote:
I think Demuslim just played the longest con in the history of esports.

This man floated a borderline offensive username for decades and only dropped it after he was (presumably) handed a pile of cash.




I prefer to say he “trolled” for a decade
Waxangel
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
United States33592 Posts
April 30 2023 06:20 GMT
#16
https://www.reddit.com/r/starcraft/comments/y2j56/til_in_eswc_saudi_arabia_threatened_to_not

Credible? Twitch link is dead
AdministratorHey HP can you redo everything youve ever done because i have a small complaint?
M3t4PhYzX
Profile Joined March 2019
Poland4250 Posts
April 30 2023 06:30 GMT
#17
hilariously sad
xsnac
Profile Blog Joined August 2011
Barbados1365 Posts
April 30 2023 09:12 GMT
#18
Wierd but when I was playing sc2 in wol, I also found his nickname to be wierd.

Maybe he wanted to copy boxer and ended up with a third ass clone of a name.
God knows but given the nickname, I disliked him just purely on this reason.

In the whole history since I watch esports only his nickname and idra's one make me have a bad feeling about them and could not root for them.

At the other side of the spectrum we have Juan who changes his nickname every 2 years, this I hate too.
1/4 \pi \epsilon_0
ejozl
Profile Joined October 2010
Denmark3489 Posts
April 30 2023 10:25 GMT
#19
Isn't it the same as the Spaz -> Spatz change.
SC2 Archon needs "Terrible, terrible damage" as one of it's quotes.
Akio
Profile Blog Joined January 2019
Finland1838 Posts
April 30 2023 12:14 GMT
#20
On April 30 2023 04:34 nojok wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 30 2023 04:00 aringadingding wrote:
Just out of curiosity, has Ben ever talked about his name or his thoughts on islam or muslims?
Edit: i am an athiest, so i have a hard time understanding things like this

His father was a fan of Cassius Clay/Muhamed Ali, he misunderstood as a child that when Ali became muslim it was actually a sort of super sayen form, not a change of religion, and he choosed this nick and never changed it afterwards.

That...is really weird he never changed it if that was the reason...
Mine gas, build tanks.
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