logo
FaZe Banks says, 'I wish I could say I'll be back… don't know if I will' as he exits FaZe Clan following $MLG controversy

FaZe Banks says, 'I wish I could say I'll be back… don't know if I will' as he exits FaZe Clan following $MLG controversy

Time of India5 days ago
(Image via YouTube/FaZe Banks)
The CEO and co-founder of FaZe Clan, Richard Bengtson, popularly known as FaZe Banks, has announced his departure from the organization. He declared to step away from the role after the heated controversy and emotional turmoil surrounding the $MLG meme coin showed no signs of ending.
In his released emotional statement, he expressed uncertainty about his future, stating he doesn't know if he will come back. The entire backlash, as per reports, has taken a severe toll on his professional and personal life.
FaZe
Banks
says farewell to FaZe
Clan
In the raw social media statement issued by Bengtson, Banks poured out his entire frustration. While he denied any involvement in a crypto scam allegations, saying,
'I've never scammed anyone a day in my fucking life,'
he ensured to directly address the core allegations that are swirling around him. Banks even went ahead to blame the entire controversy on the association of his with the FaZe brand, claiming that his name got
'easily farmed and manipulated.'
The entire backlash surrounding the crypto controversy has been so overwhelming for Banks that he made the decision to step away from FaZe Clan and the internet entirely. Banks has admitted that the controversy is
'destroying my life inside and out,'
leaving the fans wondering if Banks' exit would be permanent. His final words,
'The real ones know,'
even hinted at his entire frustration over getting misunderstood, while his concluding line,
'I wish I could say I'll be back, but I really don't know if I will,'
concluded with uncertainty.
What is the $MLG Meme Coin controversy all about?
The entire drama traces back to early 2025, when Banks, along with some other FaZe members, promoted $MLG Meme Coin. The value of the coin initially skyrocketed. But the value later crashed. It led to many accusations like
'rug pull,'
where the insiders allegedly tried to cash out early and left the investors with a lot of worthless assets. Many even blamed Banks for misleading the fans.
Things started to escalate after the leaked group chat message, which showed that Banks was blaming Adin Ross, a streamer, for the failure of the coin.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Cargo Ship Meets Pirates - Watch What the Captain Does Next!
Tips and Tricks
Undo
It was claimed by Banks that Ross's actions hurt the project.
Though Ross, who confirmed the authenticity of the screenshot, made sure to deny all blame and didn't take responsibility. He called the situation
'sad asf.'
The public feud, though, intensified scrutiny. It ultimately pushed Bengtson to walk away.
What is next for Richard Bengtson and FaZe Clan?
With the sudden exit of Bengtson, the organization FaZe Clan is left without proper leadership. While FaZe Clan stands silent for now, fans are speculating about the organization's future direction. Meanwhile, the indefinite break of Banks, continues to raise questions like, will he return back to content creation or this is it?
As of now, the entire controversy is still unfolding. The fans and the critics, both await to see the truth behind $MLG fallout or if it would come out. While there is uncertainty all around, the one thing that remains certain is that this drama is far from over.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

15 sectors to watch: From EMS to aerospace engineering - Sunny Agrawal maps the opportunity landscape
15 sectors to watch: From EMS to aerospace engineering - Sunny Agrawal maps the opportunity landscape

Economic Times

time3 days ago

  • Economic Times

15 sectors to watch: From EMS to aerospace engineering - Sunny Agrawal maps the opportunity landscape

In this edition of ETMarkets Smart Talk, Sunny Agrawal, Head of Fundamental Research at SBI Securities, shares his insights on navigating the current volatile market landscape. As global trade uncertainties and tepid earnings weigh on investor sentiment, Agrawal highlights why smart money is shifting beyond benchmark indices. From EMS and auto ancillaries to aerospace engineering and recycling, he maps out 15 high-potential sectors that could emerge as long-term winners. He also decodes trends in the IPO market, retail investor behavior, and the evolving corporate bond landscape. Edited Excerpts – ADVERTISEMENT Q) Thanks for taking the time out. The second half of 2025 started on a volatile note. How are you looking at the markets? One of the reasons could be FIIs selling, which continues in July.A) Yes, in 2HCY25, domestic equity markets begun trading on the volatile note on the back of uncertainties on global trade deal, as US president Mr Trump extended the earlier 90 days deadline which was supposed to end on 9th Jul'25 to 1st Aug'25. Investors are waiting for clarity on the bilateral deal between US and its major trading partners to assess the impact of tariffs on the global business set-up and pursuant impact on the different sectors across the globe. For e.g.; tariff of 15% on Japanese cars put American car manufacturers on weak footing as they may have to shell out 50% more on commodities like steel, copper for Canadian production, 25% more for Mexican production etc, thereby leading to competitive advantage for Japanese car home, expectations for 1QFY26 earnings season are tepid in terms of growth as most of the heavy weight sectors like IT (due to slow execution of the deals), Banks (NIMs under pressure; asset quality issue on unsecured book leading to higher provision etc), Consumer Staples (low single digit volume growth due to impact of slowdown in urban pockets) etc are likely to report single digit earnings growth. ADVERTISEMENT Having said that, certain pockets like Cement, AMCs, Hotels, Hospitals, Ports, EMS etc are likely to report decent double-digit valuation front, India is trading at a relatively expensive valuations (FY26E PE multiple of 21.4x) vs MSCI World (FY26E PE multiple of 20.7x) & MSCI EM (FY26E PE multiple of 12.7x), thereby leading to selling by FIIs. ADVERTISEMENT On domestic front, supply of paper (IPO, PE/Promoters selling, QIP, Pref etc) has also sucked liquidity thereby adding to volatility in the secondary market. Q) IPOs have picked up recently, but EY report highlighted that Indian IPO activity in the first half of 2025 recorded 108 deals raising US$4.6b, demonstrating market resilience despite a 30% decline in transactions. A) There were no IPOs in the month of Mar'25 and Apr'25 and primary market witnessed gradual recovery from month of May'25, as the sentiments began to improve with fear of unknown event of Trump's tariff tapering off. ADVERTISEMENT As we speak, in the last 10 days of July'25, 10 issues are slated to hit street for IPOs. Going forward, as the overhang of Trump's tariff ebb, we expect very robust IPO market during 2HCY25. Q) What is the initial sense you are picking up from the June quarter results, which have started to come out? A) Result season so far has been a mixed bag. Let us discuss sector by sector. On positive side, companies from sectors like Hotels, AMCs, Cement, EMS, Ports etc have reported strong to decent set of numbers with optimistic outlook. ADVERTISEMENT On the other hand, IT sector continues to grapple with global uncertainties thereby leading to inline to disappointing set of results with weak growth commentary. Banks so far have been a mixed bag with likes of ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank reporting inline numbers with no negative surprise whereas Axis has disappointed the street. QSR and consumer staple businesses continues to report tepid growth on the back of slowdown in urban markets. Q) Is the current equity market rally largely liquidity-driven, or are there sufficient earnings fundamentals to back the optimism? A) Equity markets are blessed with robust domestic liquidity thereby leading to sharp recovery post companies have delivered double digit PAT CAGR between FY20-FY24 period and now earnings growth in FY25 has slowed down to single digit led by multiple factors such as elections, slowdown in capex spending by government, global uncertainties etc. The same is getting reflected in the equity are hopeful of double-digit earnings growth to come back from 3QFY26 onwards. Markets have become stock specific and bottom-up approach is working well at the current continue to remain constructive on growth potential of Indian economy and as we speak, corporate balance sheet of Indian corporates is in good sum up, fundamental growth story of India is intact, and investors need to be patient and should invest in businesses with strong fundamentals backed back by robust growth potential. Q) SIPs crossed Rs27K – what does it talk about the retail investor behaviour change? A) Retail investors are the smartest investors on the street and are sticking to disciplined approach of investing in the stock market through SIP route. Despite of muted sentiments on the street since last 9-10 months, SIP flow continues to remain robust, which is testimony to the fact that retail investors are no more scared of market corrections and are aware of the facts that correction is part and parcel of equity market seem to have understood the benefits of long-term systematic investment approach. Thanks to the 'Mutual Fund Sahi Hai' campaign, larger investor base is able to take advantage of wealth creation journey in the market. Q) How is the corporate bond market shaping up here in India? A) As per RBI's Financial Stability Report, June 2025, corporate bond net outstanding rose to Rs 53.6 trillion as at end of Mar' 25 with the highest ever fresh issuance of Rs 9.9 trillion (up 28% YoY) during rise in corporate bond issuance signals growing traction in India's corporate bond market. This also points to an uptick in private corporate note, Indian corporates are sitting on healthy balance sheet and are tapping bond markets to tap capital for per data, institutional investors dominate the market with holding of more than 95% of the outstanding corporate bonds. Q) Where are the pockets of opportunities coming from A) We believe winners will emerge from following pockets (1) Auto OEMs and Auto Anc, (2) Cement, (3) NBFCs particularly with focus on MSME, Housing, Gold etc (4) Capital market play like wealth managers and AMCs, (5) Select Banks, (6) EMS, (7) Recycling, (8) New age businesses, (9) Pharma - CDMO, (10) Structural Steel Tubes, (11) Telecom Service Providers, (12) Hotels, (13) Hospitals, (14) Manufacturing (Aerospace Engineering, Railway Wagons, Power Equipment, Pharma ancillary etc), (15) Metals/Mining Q) Where is the smart money moving? A) We believe smart money is chasing stocks outside the benchmark indices which are likely to deliver healthy growth in medium to long term. The list of sectors shared above are likely to outperform in medium to long term. Q) How should one play the small & midcap space? A) Investors should be selective in investing in small and midcap space and should deploy fresh capital in companies backed by strong fundamentals. Investors should avoid narrative driven stocks. (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)

"I was hurt": Adin Ross responds to Banks' meme coin allegations
"I was hurt": Adin Ross responds to Banks' meme coin allegations

Time of India

time3 days ago

  • Time of India

"I was hurt": Adin Ross responds to Banks' meme coin allegations

Image via:A scandal that put the online-streaming and crypto worlds into shake has seen Adin Ross implode the public response to allegations from former FaZe Clan CEO Richard 'FaZe Banks," who blamed him for the demise of the MLG memecoin. With the legal fallout from the scandal, the question of influencer crypto projects ensued again, and along with it, the individual clashes. The Collapse of MLG Coin MLG Coin stepped into the Solana blockchain in early 2025 as a joke-based memecoin. With the patronage of celebrities and complementary viral appeal, the memecoin became a serious asset. By January, it had remarkably garnered a market capitalization of upward of $166 million. Jason Speaks On Banks Stepping Down As FaZe CEO.. Much of the rise was because Ross and FaZe Banks endorsed the token on their social channels heavily. But the hype was short-lived. The price of the coin fell by more than 90% in March, leading to losses for the investors and accusations of a big rug pull. Leaked Texts Arise Blame Game Silence in turn was followed by a flurry of accusations. On July 28, leaked was a Banks message shared as a screenshot from a group chat that went by the name 'MLG Official Main Chat,' which left Adin Ross squarely in the blame. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Test Test Tabbola Undo Banks had accused Ross of being the 'only bad actor' and had said that Ross was 'allowing the community to use him as exit liquidity.' 'Adin Ross f**ked this up,' Banks allegedly wrote. 'His ego got hurt, blamed Frank.' These comments were widely circulated and fueled a social media frenzy, turning the heat toward Ross. Adin Ross Responds: "I Was Hurt" On the 30th of July, Ross held a livestream where he directly addressed the controversy, offering a very emotional, personal spin on Banks' remarks. Speaking at around 15 minutes into the stream, Ross emphasized the depth of their relationship, 'Okay, so here's where I'll start about this, guys, I don't hate FaZe Banks. Okay? I don't hate FaZe Banks. I have history with him, bro. This is someone that, for a very long time, I consider family. Right? Like, when I woke up and seen this s*t, you can pull up my tweet, too. I was fking hurt. I was hurt. I'm not going to lie to you all, chat, I don't give a f*k, I don't hate the guy. I'm not mad at him, bro. Was this something that caught me off guard? Was it something that I wished didn't happen? Yeah. It hurt. It was all just... it hurt. Okay?" Ross did not really go into detail on the technical aspects of the coin's rise or collapse, but rather on the very personal feelings of betrayal he experienced with someone whom he had trusted. His tone was reflective. Crypto and Consequences The MLG debacle has served as a cautionary tale in the world of influencer-backed crypto. A craze start-ups into risky financial storms with holders with empty pockets and creators rushing to protect their reputations. Neither Banks nor Ross have ever accepted the fact that they were behind an alleged rug pull. The accusations were therefore difficult to take at face value, especially with leaked group chats and market dumps happening within the same timeframe. For now, it appears that Adin Ross has drawn a line between private emotions and public blame. Whether this is the resolution to the controversy or just a break before further revelations come forth is still unknown. One thing is sure, the confluence of influencer culture and crypto hype has remained one explosive mix. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!

'What the f**k': FaZe Rain blasts FaZe Banks for blaming Adin Ross over alleged MLG crypto coin scam
'What the f**k': FaZe Rain blasts FaZe Banks for blaming Adin Ross over alleged MLG crypto coin scam

Time of India

time4 days ago

  • Time of India

'What the f**k': FaZe Rain blasts FaZe Banks for blaming Adin Ross over alleged MLG crypto coin scam

(Image via @FaZe_Rain & @banks/X) FaZe Clan drama just hit another level, and this time, it's got crypto, leaked DMs, and some serious finger-pointing. On July 28, 2025, former FaZe CEO Richard 'FaZe Banks' officially stepped down after the now-infamous MLG coin scandal, but it's what came after that has the internet fully locked in. FaZe Rain, a longtime Clan member, had one phrase for the situation: 'Crazy thing to read.' FaZe Rain doesn't hold back after leaked DMs call out Adin Ross The MLG coin (yep, the one meme'd as '360noscope420blazeit') exploded earlier this year after being pushed hard by Banks and Kick streamer Adin Ross. At one point, the coin peaked at a wild $200 million market cap before crashing down to just $12 million, causing accusations of a classic rug pull. Now, with the dust settling, leaked DMs started floating around online. And here's where it gets messy: Banks allegedly pinned the blame on Adin Ross, calling him the 'only bad actor' in the situation. That didn't sit right with Rain. — yoxics (@yoxics) During a recent Twitch stream, Nordan 'Rain' Shat, a longtime FaZe member and former housemate of Banks, didn't wait long to go live and speak up. 'When I read that sh*t at the end saying there's only 'one bad actor in this, and it's Adin,' I was like 'What the f**k!,' that was a crazy thing to read, right?" he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The DMs, which rapidly circulated online, appeared to show Banks distancing himself from the token's collapse, placing heat on Ross and his audience. Rain, however, wasn't buying the deflection. Rain calls out Banks for dodging accountability Rain's biggest issue wasn't just the message; it was the lack of ownership. He pointed out that Banks hadn't confirmed or denied whether the DMs were real. 'We all f**k up, we all make mistakes, but it's all about taking accountability,' he exclaimed. He also reminded viewers that Banks was the one who connected Ross with "Frank", the now-infamous figure linked to the MLG coin's backend. Rain likened it to introducing two friends, and one robbing the other. If you made that connection, it's partially on you. Jason Speaks On Banks Stepping Down As FaZe CEO.. Jasontheween says FaZe is still locked in, even after CEO shake-up Meanwhile, Jasontheween, another core FaZe member, broke his silence during a recent stream. According to him, the vibe inside FaZe Clan remains intact, despite Banks stepping down: 'The subathon's still goin' on, we're all still boys. Nothing's gonna change,' he said. He added that a lot is happening behind the scenes, stuff the public 'just doesn't need to know about.' But for now, the Clan is focused on keeping content rolling and moving past the headline storm. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store