Blizzard has reportedly forbidden the “okay” hand symbol in the Overwatch League (OWL) Arena claiming it’s a “white power symbol.”

Esports reporter Rod Breslau reported that “Blizzard told a fan in the Overwatch League arena they are not allowed to use 👌for its ‘association as a white power symbol’ after they flashed it on stream and a complaint was made to the OWL account on twitter.”

You can see the symbol flashed on the screen in the background of the interview.

Blizzard told a fan in the Overwatch League arena they are not allowed to use 👌for its ‘association as a white power symbol’ after they flashed it on stream and a complaint was made to the OWL account on twitter pic.twitter.com/RMgUEUsBWK — Rod Breslau (@Slasher) April 5, 2019

Breslau’s report is based on a tweet from Twitter user @Rebarob22 who provided a screencap of the tweet in question reporting the “Okay” symbol as a “white power hand signal.”

@Rebarob22 also indicated this is a new policy from Blizzard as the “Okay” symbol had been flashed on OWL broadcasts throughout last season.

So apparently we’re no longer allowed to do the 👌 during OWL broadcasts because it’s a white supremacist symbol? This has been happening since last season and this is the first we’ve ever heard about it having such connotations? But Blizzard asked for it to stop, so no more 👌. pic.twitter.com/Y5B4TUvlY2 — reba (@rebarob22) April 5, 2019

@Rebarob22 indicates the symbol was made by one of their friends.

I wasn’t at the arena tonight because I had to work, but it was a friend that was called out for it and spread the word to the rest of us and I’m just???? This has been going on all season and part of last. How had we not heard of this sooner. — reba (@rebarob22) April 5, 2019

Nobody is inherently angry about it. I understand Blizzard wanting to avoid that negative connotation no matter the intent. It’s more concerning that it hadn’t been addressed sooner because that brings up the issue that it could’ve sent the wrong message long before now. — reba (@rebarob22) April 5, 2019

Another Twitter user by the name of @SteelTrainer_OW claims they were the user who threw up the “Okay” symbol indicating he thought it was for the old “gottem” game.

The Urban Dictionary describes it as the “Circle Game” where players attempt to get people to look at the “Okay” symbol in order to be able to punch everyone who saw it.

I was the fan throwing up the 👌, and I want to apologize for not knowing the context behind it. The superfans have been using it for the old “gottem” game all season, but now that we know the context it is unacceptable. Thank you for bringing this up. It will not happen again. https://t.co/kjHyUreV3i — Ty ‘SteelTrainer’ (@SteelTrainer_OW) April 5, 2019

Breslau indicates that Blizzard has banned the popular Pepe the Frog meme.

Previously Blizzard has banned the use of the pepe the frog within the OWL arena and all teams/players from using it for its association as a symbol with white nationalism/hate groups feelsbadman pic.twitter.com/xbHcWZr6Zk — Rod Breslau (@Slasher) April 5, 2019

He also ridiculed Blizzard for their hypocrisy indicating they will have to ban their own character, Zenyatta, for using the symbol in order to be consistent with their policy.

as a Zen main I am upset my hero will be banned from the game pic.twitter.com/91YpmElEzv — Rod Breslau (@Slasher) April 5, 2019

Breslau wasn’t the only one to ridicule Blizzard for their policy. Plenty of other users called them out.

The worst of the tiki torch bearers pic.twitter.com/fNiExLKuQA — BALLOC (@GhostBALLOC) April 5, 2019

Scuba divers everywhere are very concerned over the misappropriation of their “we good” symbol👌 as they cannot use thumbs-omg-I-need-to-surface-up 👍 — Riot Blaustoise (@RiotBlaustoise) April 5, 2019

How will I signal to my SCUBA buds underwater that I’m doing okay!? pic.twitter.com/Md4WfxB3cx — Kalie (@Kaerrigan) April 5, 2019

Should I stop the underwater diving!? 👌 pic.twitter.com/3u4ACXcfGx — Nuno Arrojado (@WolfskinLux) April 5, 2019

The 👌symbol is also the American Sign Language letter F. We can no longer F to pay respects. — Kittenball (@Kittenball_) April 5, 2019

I didn’t know that Malcolm in the middle had an entire episode just about a white supremacy symbol pic.twitter.com/hCzTGBgKxD — Chagas.Still.a.Lie (@BesouroDeChagas) April 5, 2019

Even more ironic is the fact that the Overwatch League’s official Twitter account has actually used the “Okay” emoji symbol plenty of times in the past.

Here’s just a few examples:

What do you make of this report that Blizzard is banning the “Okay” symbol because they believe it is a “white power symbol?” Do you think they will ban themselves for using the symbol on Twitter? Will they delete their own character for using the symbol?

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