Former LoL Caster Phreak Leaves Social Media Due to Toxicity and Threats
David “Phreak” Turley, a former League of Legends caster who has transitioned into game development, announced today that he is leaving social media due to the overwhelming toxicity and death threats he has been receiving.
Phreak, who regularly posts videos about League of Legends patch previews on his YouTube channel, explained in his latest video released on Nov. 15 that he has been facing extreme toxicity and even received threats to his life. As a result, he has decided to take a step back from social media going forward.
“I am more or less going to quit social media for the immediate future,” said Phreak in the video. “The amount of toxicity has risen so sharply that it’s not worth me seeing the occasionally useful comment amidst all the death threats. So it is what it is.”
Targeted for Explaining Riot’s Changes
While it is devastating for fans to see Phreak forced to leave social media, it is not surprising given the toxic nature of the League of Legends community. Phreak positioned himself as the face of the development team by explaining Riot’s changes in his videos, making him an easy target for trolls and hateful community members.
Phreak joined the developer team in December 2022 after a successful career as a League of Legends caster since 2009. He has casted hundreds of games, mainly focusing on the LCS and working on major international events like the Mid-Season Invitationals and Worlds. He was even a caster in the first League of Legends World Championship in 2011.
Support from Fans and Players
Fortunately, while the League of Legends community has its fair share of toxic players, there are also many who support Phreak and condemn those harassing him. The news quickly spread on social media, with players and fans expressing their solidarity with Phreak and criticizing the individuals responsible for the toxicity.
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