It's possible that teabagging will become a bannable offense in VALORANT in the near future.
According to inside sources, Riot could be banned players from teabagging opponents in VALORANT starting on July 1. This would include all unrated and competitive matches as well as all game modes. The ban for teabagging will allegedly range from one week to one year "depending on how many crouches were performed," sources said.
The leaked rule change was accompanied by a screenshot of an alleged warning that would be sent to players who have been caught teabagging. When the act has been "detected," Riot will allegedly cancel the player's game, with nobody getting a win or loss.
The news was met with major eye-rolling from the gaming community. Teabagging has been a big part of gaming culture (for better or worse) since the dawn of online shooters. It's such a staple of the online gaming world that it's often not thought twice about when it happens. Of course, there are gamers who find the behavior toxic or offensive out there.
Is teabagging in VALORANT sexual assault?
The possible VALORANT ruling comes at a time when gamers have even been debating if teabagging is considered "sexual assault." Teabagging is derived from a sexual act where a man will hang his balls into the mouth of his partner. Of course, people online have not consented to this sexual act (and neither have their fallen characters in-game) but it's questionable if this means it's a true sexual assault or just a trollish way to annoy someone.
Some gamers have recently argued that teabagging is a sexually aggressive act done virtually against their will. While it isn't physically happening to them IRL, it is still seen as a sex-driven form of harassment to them. It was even noted on Twitter that getting teabagged can be triggering to people who have been sexually assaulted.
Others responded, however, that it's just an automatic taunt people do to be annoying online and it's not meant to be a sexual attack. Some questioned if they are considered a murderer if they kill someone in a game. The difference, however, is that eliminating opponents is part of the game and something players agree to when they join a match. Getting teabagged may not be something they want to see or experience. While teabagging may be upsetting to some, however, calling it "sexual assault" is taking it too far for some gamers.
It wouldn't be the first time Riot tried to stop players from teabagging. Pro players were instructed not to shoot or teabag enemy corpses during the first VALORANT Champions Tour. As expected, the pros did not comply.
For now, it remains a mystery if Riot Games is truly going to ban teabagging in VALORANT. The developer has not responded to the rumored rule changes, leaving it a shocking rumor at this time.
