One of the most popular Fortnite: Battle Royale streamers in the world is reportedly filing a lawsuit against the esports organization that he’s represented since April 2018.
Turner “Tfue” Tenney is suing FaZe Clan, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The report claims that Tfue filed this lawsuit against FaZe Clan today “for allegedly limiting his ability to pursue his profession in violation of California law, passing on a lucrative brand deal because of a conflict of interest and failing to pay him his share of sponsorship earnings.”
FaZe has been “allegedly restraining [Tfue’s] business opportunities—and taking up to 80 percent of his earnings,” according to the report. Tfue has over 10.7 million subscribers on YouTube and over 36,000 subscribers on Twitch. If he allegedly only keeps 20 percent of the income from “branded videos” on social media platforms, this contract could be causing him to miss out on a large chunk of change.
The report includes other damning information about FaZe Clan. Attorney Bryan Freedman of Freedman + Taitelman, LLP wrote that FaZe “continuously pressured and encouraged [Tfue] and others to undertake dangerous stunts while performing in videos.” Freedman said that Tfue even suffered an arm injury in one video that “resulted in permanent disfigurement.”
Tfue reportedly tried to terminate his deal with FaZe in September due to a breach of contract, but that request was allegedly rejected.
Tfue recently qualified for the $30 million Fortnite World Cup Finals, which will take place in New York in July. It’s unclear what ramifications this lawsuit may have on the popular streamer’s future with FaZe Clan or if he’ll still represent the organization at one of the biggest tournaments in esports history.
Update May 20 1:40pm CT: FaZe Clan owner Ricky Banks tweeted that the organization has “never taken 80 percent of anyone’s prize money. Not sure where that came from, but a contract like that has NEVER existed. We’ve collected $0 from Turner’s prize money. ZERO.”
