Tfue denies FaZe Clan claims that he wants to start his own team

Steven Rondina Published 31/05/2019

The battle for public opinion between Turner “Tfue” Tenney and FaZe Clan is continuing on.

The Fortnite esports star and popular streamer pushed back against FaZe’s claim that he is angling to create his own competing esports organization. During a talk with the Konkrete Podcast, the topic of starting his own team came up and Tfue made it clear that he has no intention of doing so.

“No. Hell no. I don’t have time to run a company. I’m too stupid,” Tfue said. “I can’t even read a contract, what makes you think I can run an esports organization?”

The statement directly contradicts claims recently made by FaZe Clan CEO Lee Trink. The executive focused in on rumors regarding Tfue’s plans to start his own competing organization and stated that Tfue had joined FaZe and manipulated staff in an effort to steal trade secrets. This became the centerpiece of FaZe’s counter-offensive against Tfue after his calls for FaZe to make his contract public went unanswered, with Trink repeatedly likening the situation to LeBron James leaving the Los Angeles Lakers to start his own NBA franchise.

Though Tfue was clear that he had no interest in starting his own organization, there was no signs of a thaw when it came to his relationship with FaZe.

Will Tfue Return to FaZe Clan?

Earlier this month, Tfue filed a lawsuit against FaZe Clan. The court filing states that the organization signed talent to exploitative, illegal contracts and deliberately preyed upon young, up-and-coming talent. The news instantly became the hottest topic in esports and the legal case carries major implications for the entire industry.

But will Tfue and FaZe make amends? The answer is probably not, at least not in terms of rectifying the business end of this controversy. Though Tfue’s battle with FaZe has been predominantly discussed for its dramatic elements, the case exclusively boils down to Tfue’s inability to secure his own sponsorships while under the FaZe umbrella.

While other top streamers like Tyler “Ninja” Blevins and Michael “shroud” Grzesiek are able to secure their own sponsorships from energy drink companies and hardware manufacturers, Tfue is only allowed to work with FaZe Clan’s partners. With his contract set to run until 2021, Tfue’s legal team believes this could cost him millions.

Because of that, Tfue is seeking to have his contract with the organization voided.

The problem for Tfue is that these sorts of legal battles can stretch on for years, something that could ultimately leave him in limbo until his contract expires. Another very possible outcome is that FaZe acquiesces to his demands out of court and grant him his release.

The one way Tfue and FaZe come together amicably would be settling out of court and entering into a new round of contract negotiations to lock him up for the foreseeable future. But this would likely require either Tfue taking a hit on his income or FaZe paying exorbitant sums to keep him.

Steven Rondina

About Steven Rondina

Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.

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