What should have been a respectful post-game interview moment turned into an uncomfortable controversy at First Stand 2026. Brazilian streamer Baiano, an official co-streamer for the event, mocked Gen.G mid laner Chovy during an in-person interview — while Chovy was in the middle of telling the Brazilian audience how much he loved their country.
The Popcorn Stunt
During his interview with Chovy following the Gen.G vs JDG series, Baiano placed a popcorn bucket featuring the Gen.G logo directly in front of the Korean mid laner. The gesture was deliberate and calculated.
In Brazil, popcorn — called “pipoca” — is the root of the slang term “pipoqueiro,” a derogatory term used in Portuguese gaming and sports culture to call someone a choker. By placing the popcorn bucket in front of Chovy during the interview, Baiano was openly calling one of the best mid laners in the world a choker — to his face, while he was being interviewed.
It Didn’t Stop There
Minutes after the interview concluded, Baiano posted a photo with Chovy on Twitter/X with the caption: “What a moment, family. I only have thanks for Chovy 🍿. Thanks for the three titles handed over to Faker.”
The tweet was a direct reference to Chovy’s reputation for never winning a World Championship — framing his career as a series of gifts to Faker and T1. Baiano is a self-proclaimed T1 and Faker superfan, which explains the angle — but the timing and execution crossed a clear line.
The cruelest part of the entire situation is the contrast. While Baiano was mocking him, Chovy was in the middle of expressing genuine warmth toward Brazil and its fanbase. He was telling the crowd how much he loved their country. Baiano responded by posting a popcorn emoji.
The Reaction
The international community reacted with widespread criticism. The consensus is clear — regardless of rivalries or fan loyalties, mocking a player to their face during an official interview while they are being gracious and respectful is unacceptable behavior from an official co-streamer.
Baiano’s status as an official broadcaster for the event makes the situation worse. This wasn’t a random fan in the crowd — this was someone given a platform and access specifically to represent Brazilian esports culture to an international audience.
A Bad Look for Everyone
First Stand 2026 is being held in Brazil — a country whose esports scene has been celebrated internationally following FURIA’s dominant Americas Cup run. The Baiano incident undermines that goodwill at the worst possible moment.
Chovy, for his part, has not publicly responded and the tweet was deleted.
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