Felix “T Pot” Hasson, a professional Super Smash Bros. player, filed a federal lawsuit against multiple tournaments and Discord servers for banning him due to his pro-Israel social media posts. The National Jewish Advocacy Center (NJAC) brought the case to the New York Southern District Court, alleging civil rights violations and discrimination against Hasson's Jewish identity.
Hasson, who has publicly supported the IDF and criticized Hamas, faced backlash after a fellow player, Jonathan Mendez, initiated a campaign against him on social media. This resulted in bans from tournaments like Luminosity Gaming’s Luminosity Makes Big Moves and venues such as Waypoint Cafe. Organizers cited safety concerns and claims of hate speech for the bans, while Hasson and his supporters argue these accusations are false and biased.
NJAC highlighted double standards, noting that players promoting antisemitic rhetoric and supporting Hamas remain active in the community. They argue Zionism is an integral part of Jewish identity and should be legally protected. Hasson, who ranked globally in the game, claims significant financial and professional losses due to the bans.
NJAC Litigation Counsel Matthew Mainen emphasized the need to address these disparities, accusing the gaming community of ostracizing pro-Israel Jews while tolerating antisemitism.
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