Turner 'Tfue' Tenney is one of the most noteworthy names in the Fortnite esports scene, but The Hollywood Reporter indicates he is suing his organisation FaZe Clan for taking up to 80% of his earnings, restricting his earning opportunities.
This is allegedly in violation of California law, and the lawsuit also claims that FaZe declined a brand deal because of a conflict of interest. There are even claims that FaZe didn't pay him what he was owed regarding sponsorship earnings.
FaZe's Gamer Agreement is part of the problem, according to Bryan Freedman of Freedman + Taitelman:
"That Gamer Agreement is grossly oppressive, onerous, and one-sided. Faze Clan uses its illegal Gamer Contracts to limit Tenney to deals sourced exclusively by Faze Clan and to prevent Tenney from exploring deals presented by others; deals that are potentially superior to deals procured by Faze Clan; and deals that are not saddled with an eighty percent (80%) finder's fee."
Tfue allegedly tried to end the agreement back in September, but this was rejected, and now he's seeking to terminate it via this lawsuit, as well as looking for the payment he is owed.
"We're shocked and disappointed to see the news of Tfue's press article and lawsuit," FaZe said in a statement. "We have only collected a total of $60,000 from our partnership, while Tfue has earned millions as a member of FaZe Clan."
These Gamer Agreements may not be meeting the Talent Agency Act's standards either, and Freedman writes:
"Not only does Faze Clan take advantage of these young artists, it jeopardizes their health, safety and welfare."
"Faze Clan also continuously pressured and encouraged Tenney and others to undertake dangerous stunts while performing in videos. During one video, Tenney suffered an injury to his arm while skateboarding which resulted in permanent disfigurement."
"The time is now for content creators, gamers and streamers to stop being taken advantage of through oppressive, unfair and illegal agreements. The significant legal actions taken today will be a wake up call that this behavior will no longer be tolerated. The gaming community deserves a safe environment that allows gamers the freedom to control their own careers."
We will keep you updated as this story develops.