Valorant: What is the Thomas Shen controversy?

Valorant has quickly become one of the biggest global phenomena, and it makes sense that players from all walks of life want to create content about it. However, as it is with community, the Valorant community also has its fair share of skeletons in its closet, and one of the biggest ones has been about Thomas Shen.

Being a popular Valorant streamer and basing his content around being a smooth-talker, Thomas Shen came against legal and social fire when he was caught in an online scandal involving a child, where FaZe Nighthawk caught the streamer attempting to meet two minors.

Here’s everything that has come out of this controversy, as well as all of the consequences Thomas Shen has had to face.

What were the allegations against Valorant streamer Thomas Shen?

Popular Valorant streamer and YouTuber Thomas Shen was caught in an online scandal in September 2025. Allegations surfaced that Shen had inappropriately been communicating with underage fans. The controversy began when a viral TikTok video by FaZe Nighthawk claimed that Shen had met two girls, aged 13 and 11, on the voice-chat app Omite TV and proceeded to apparently flirt with them. 

Leaked chat clips were huge to the allegations, where Shen is heard insisting he is older and arranging an in-person meeting after being told the girl’s age. This was bluntly summarized by one community comment, which stated that Shen “tried to meet up with a ‘13 year old”. Interacting with minors like this caused immediate and widespread outrage within the Valorant community when the allegations became public.

Struggling to win? Bad teammates?

Purchase a game with one of our PRO players.

One game

Average wait time <10 minutes

$4.00 $3.32 per game

Buy Now  - $3.32

Two games

Average wait time <10 minutes

$8.00 $3.00 per game

Buy Now  - $6.00

Three games

Average wait time <10 minutes

$12.00 $2.50 per game

Buy Now  - $7.50

Cancel

There was an error while processing your payment. Please try again later.

Cardholder's name

Email

Info

Your order will be assigned to account with this email address. If you do not have an account, it will be created for you.

Street Address

City

State

Postcode/Zipcode

Info

Estimated Competitor Price is the price our competitors would charge you for a similar boost.

Total Price:

Purchase Boost

Secure Credit & Debit Card Payments Processed by

Info

Using Stripe Inc. Payment Gateway allows us to provide our customers with an end-to-end encrypted, secure checkout experience. We will never store your card or personal data.

How did the Thomas Shen controversy spread?

The controversy emerged and spread quickly through social media platforms. It began when TikTok creator FaZe Nighthawk posted an exposé video discussing Shen’s alleged conversations with the two underage girls. This initial clip quickly spread beyond TikTok to X and Reddit, achieving viral status within hours. Shen’s own Valorant clips and related screenshots began to circulate as fans discussed the serious nature of the accusations.

Posts about the incident were in numerous Valorant forums, and the topic was discussed in various Twitch chats. Several Valorant-focused YouTubers and streamers published reactions regarding Shen’s behavior and the available evidence within one or two days, which amplified the controversy. This multi-platform spread meant the issue became headline news in gaming circles, with fans watching the outcome in real time.

How did the Valorant community react to the allegations?

The reaction from the Valorant community and influencers was full of shock and disgust. On forums, users heavily condemned the alleged behavior. Many people talked about their disbelief, with one fan writing that they “did not expect this guy to be a creep” after going through the leaked chat logs. Others wore direct, explicitly noting that Shen “tried to meet up with a 13 year old” girl, highlighting the deeply concerning situation. 

The severity of the community’s view was showcased by making comparisons. Some fans started comparing Thomas Shen with EDP445, a notorious American streamer who was exposed to predatory crimes. High-profile Valorant commentators and streamers publicly weighed in. For example, YouTube JettWest released a video outlining the evidence and expressing outrage. The overall tone of the situation was anger and a desire to see Thomas Shen accountable for his actions. This collective anger helped the story trend across gaming communities and led to calls for platforms and sponsors to take action.

What were the consequences for Thomas Shen’s actions?

The consequences for Thomas Shen have been reputational, mostly, with a lack of formal actions at the time of writing this. Shen himself hasn’t made a public apology or a statement that talks about the allegations. He hasn’t tweeted about it, posted an official video response, or provided any personal explanation on his channels. When it comes to platform consequences, the situation remains unclear. Third-party data indicates that his Twitch channel, where he is a partnered streamer, was not suspended immediately.