The OK hand gesture is not OK.
Last week, Blizzard made headlines for reportedly banning people from making the "ok hand" gesture at the Overwatch League venue. It might seem insane, but Blizzard was right to do this.
While the gesture itself is innocuous when you're using it in the right context, it's been adopted by some people with ties to white supremacist ideologies. It may have started as a meme, but it spiraled out of control and is now being used by some truly terrible people.
Blizzard was right to ban the gesture, because racism doesn't belong in esports.
Written and hosted by: Daniel Rosen (@Daniel_Rosen)
Shot and edited by: Dennis Gonzales (@Tarmanydyn)
Graphics by: Diego Bernal
Editorial assistance by Colin McNeil (@McNeil Colin)
All footage courtesy of:
OWL clips
Courtesy: Activision Blizzard
https://www.twitch.tv/overwatchleague
Zenyatta poses
Courtesy: Activision Blizzard via Jay D
https://youtu.be/R5EFk8c2m_U
Zenyatta spray
Courtesy: Activision Blizzard via Warp 10 Overwatch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBuMO0OH3-c
Racist Hand Signs
Courtesy: Anti-Defamation League
https://www.adl.org/hatesymbolsdatabase?cat_id%5B153%5D=153
Christchurch shooter hand sign story
Courtesy: news.com.au
https://www.news.com.au/world/pacific/truth-behind-accused-gunmans-hand-symbol-in-court/news-story/b6654e20835dd6200117a69516ceed7f
Crowd shot of OWL game
Courtesy: Activision Blizzard
https://blizzard.gamespress.com
Music used under license from Associated Production Music LLC (”APM”).
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