Stranger Issues actor joins FaZe Clan in effort to ‘deliver ladies to the forefront,’ former FaZe leaders bully her till she cries and seemingly quits

FaZe Clan is a multitude. The model is all edgy cash, constructed on dudebros who put on basketball jerseys pulling off spinning trickshots on Name of Obligation, however lately there’s been large controversy over its NASDAQ itemizing and a dispute between FaZe as-is and FaZe because it was, with a number of of the corporate’s co-founders claiming they have been sidelined and ripped-off by the fits. The cherry on the cake? FaZe is at severe threat of being delisted by Nasdaq as a result of its inventory value has plummeted from a excessive of round $20 in August to, on the time of writing, 54 cents a share.

So the movies could also be all greenback payments and that swag life, however the actuality is that this organisation is in dire want of a turnaround (hell, even Snoop Dogg’s deserted ship). An enormous a part of that’s its skeezy public picture, with roster members getting embroiled in varied scandals and a revolving door of esports associated drama, and the widespread notion that FaZe is one thing of a boys’ membership. Which isn’t a superb search for, y’know, an precise company. 

The ugliness behind the model bubbled to the floor not too long ago when FaZe added the actor and streamer Grace Van Dien to its roster, full with a well-produced video starring different members of FaZe and introducing her as FaZe Bluefille. Sharing the announcement on social media, Van Dien stated: “Ever since my first assembly with FaZe, we shared the identical imaginative and prescient in working collectively to create lasting change for feminine avid gamers. We picked one another for a cause and I’m excited to tackle an necessary function to assist deliver ladies to the forefront. LET’S GOOOO.”

One may anticipate that, exterior of the inevitable web idiots, Van Dien could be welcomed with open arms by FaZe followers and members. In spite of everything, in addition to her varied film and TV roles, most not too long ago within the fourth season of Stranger Issues, she’s been streaming for a while and FaZe now could be as a lot concerning the merch and streams as it’s aggressive esports.

This was not how issues performed out. Van Dien had unwittingly wandered into the center of an unsightly battle for the way forward for FaZe, through which former co-owner Nordan ‘FaZe Rain’ Shat is a key participant, and was handled appallingly because of this. FaZe Rain was fired in 2020 and is now not part of the organisation however sees himself as battling for the soul of the corporate towards the fits, and regardless of not being a present member is in open warfare with the corporate’s executives—most not too long ago posting a video with firm financials. Rain notably types FaZe as “a brotherhood” and, in a nutshell, is implacably against the form of model extensions and celeb partnerships that, he would argue, consists of the likes of Van Dien.

His disdain initially discovered expression in that the majority up to date of types: A response video. FaZe Rain posted his reactions to varied moments featured in Van Dien’s announcement video, and somewhat brutally mocked her (specifically her line that becoming a member of FaZe was like “coming dwelling”).

If we put the infantile parts of the video to 1 facet for a second, Rain’s level, akin to it’s, is that Van Dien lacks the gaming credentials and information to deliver something of worth to FaZe. He was not alone in that opinion, with different FaZe members together with Adapt, Censor and Banks becoming a member of the refrain, together with an entire legion of FaZe followers who noticed where the wagon was heading and jumped gleefully on-board.

Nevertheless, Rain does not a lot step over the road as fully ignore it, and says a number of issues that transcend the pale. Rain says Van Dien was “most likely enjoying with Barbies” whereas he was establishing FaZe and “making my first million on this trade”, earlier than declaring that she is “excruciatingly mid” and somebody who he would “by no means let contact me on my drunkest evening”.

Van Dien responded with a jab about Rain overdosing on stream, referencing his public wrestle with prescribed drugs (in his phrases, “benzos and opioids”), which is where the wheels actually got here off. After a public back-and-forth on-line, Van Dien and Rain agreed to fulfill in-person, and in that encounter she admitted the overdose remark went too far however challenged Rain about varied earlier public statements and facets of FaZe. Rain accused her of being emotional and never with the ability to take a joke; because the encounter will get more and more disagreeable, Van Dien calls him a “horrible individual” and leaves the room in tears.

On the way in which out, Van Dien says if the video is made public she’ll depart FaZe. Ignoring her warning (or maybe welcoming it), FaZe Rain uploaded the video, interspersed together with his personal feedback. That video could be seen right here, and beneath is the unedited clip subsequently posted by Van Dien.

That is some horrible stuff, and Rain’s personal response video to it makes it fairly clear that he is totally conscious of what he is doing. At one level as he begins accusing Van Dien of inflicting him to think about suicide and leaving his mom and not using a son, he pauses the alternate to say “I am an actor too, bitch.” Rain continues on this aggressive vein for an additional 30 seconds or so earlier than Van Dien will get as much as depart the room, at factors audibly sobbing.

There’s extra to those exchanges, and Van Dien fights again towards Rain’s overly private and misogynistic aggression, however the fact is that Rain is and has been on the warpath towards FaZe for a while, and Van Dien is solely his newest goal. Because the argument progresses the goalposts carry on shifting and, after all, many FaZe followers have taken Rain’s facet. Van Dien tried to counter Rain’s assertions however, sadly, was in a kind of conditions where something she did say was sure to make it worse.

It’s indicative of the state of this organisation that Van Dien was employed to assist FaZe’s public picture with ladies, and this has so shortly descended into private insults, misogynistic commentary, and mockery of her gaming information. Van Dien subsequently locked her Twitter account (it is public once more now) and has eliminated any point out of FaZe Clan from her bio.

“FaZe is not any stranger to contrasting viewpoints and passionate opinions on the way forward for the model,” stated a press release from the official FaZe account on Might 31. “Recruitment has all the time drawn that out. However make no mistake, the mistreatment of our latest member is on no account OK. Grace joined in hopes to deliver her voice to FaZe & we stand by her.”

Two founding members of FaZe Clan responded to this. “You guys have misplaced the fucking plot,” stated FaZe Banks. “An extended very long time in the past,” added FaZe Temperrr. However they don’t seem to be on the facet you may assume: They’re with Rain. It’s clear from different feedback that that is much less concerning the specifics of the Van Dien state of affairs than the continued battle between some FaZe founders and FaZe as it’s now. When requested what occurred to FaZe, Temperrr stated: “We haven’t offered something. Haven’t made a dime off our shares. Company cranium fucked our model, squeezed each final drop possible & is continuous to repeat that very same course of”.

I contacted FaZe Clan to make clear whether or not Van Dien stays part of the organisation: Somewhat oddly, they did not reply that pretty easy query and pointed me again in the direction of the above assertion, including it did not have “any additional data to share at the moment”. I’ve contacted Grace Van Dien’s company and FaZe Rain straight, and can update with any response.