The community of the fighting game “Super Smash Bros.” is particularly hard hit by the current wave of sexual harassment allegations. The player Puppeh, who was 14 at the time, claims he was sexually manipulated and used by a 24-year-old woman in 2016. He is now struggling with that time.
This is what the player says: It concerns one of the best players in the world in Smash Ultimate, Troy “Puppeh” Wells. He is now 18 years old. The title image shows him at 14.
He grew up in the “Smash” scene in Virginia. Tournaments for fighting games like Super Smash Bros. often take place locally rather than online like shooter or MOBA tournaments.
The player says (via twitlonger): In the summer of 2016, when he was 14 years old, he played practically only Smash; his whole life revolved around the game and he wanted to go to the big tournaments. Since he could not drive himself yet, he was part of a carpool.
At the local tournaments, he met the then 24-year-old Cinnamon “Cinnpie” Dunson, who was a player and commentator herself.
Cinnpie is said to have “manipulated, used, and sexualized” him at that time, as Puppeh writes today.
His first sexual experience with Cinnpie occurred after a tournament one night. She had been drinking, threw him down, lay on top of him, and made out with him for 15 to 20 seconds. After that, she got up and continued playing.
Over time, a sexual relationship developed between him and Cinnpie. They often cuddled in bed and kissed each other. It even went as far as oral sex, but they never had sex.
Puppeh says: This “pseudo-relationship” went on all summer – Cinnpie told him they could be together when he turned 18. She also told him he had to delete the Facebook messages and must not talk to anyone about it.
That is why the player now suffers from that time: Puppeh says Cinnpie played with his mind. He believes that many of his current mental health issues stem from that summer and how she treated him. She constantly manipulated him, even though he was still trying to find himself as a person.
Not being able to talk to anyone about that time weighed heavily on him. He is so exhausted from having kept silent about these experiences for years and suffering under them. He hopes to find peace now and to come to terms with that time.
As can be seen from his tweets, he seems to be feeling miserable at the moment.
This is how Cinnpie reacts: She has not commented on this. There is an old statement from her from 2019 in which she vehemently denies these allegations. At that time, the community seemed to believe her and condemned these “ugly rumors”.
However, these rumors in 2019 came from third parties, not from Puppeh himself.
Images from 2016 shock people
This is what makes the case so special: These allegations against Cinnpie have been circulating since 2016. According to Dotesports, both had denied the case at that time. Only now, with the wave of sexual harassment allegations and Puppeh’s own statement, does it seem that the community is taking it seriously.
People seem particularly shocked because there are images from that time showing Puppeh and Cinnpie together: Cinnpie is about 2 heads taller than Puppeh, who looked extremely young for a 14-year-old.
Severe vilification against Cinnpie on social media
This is the direct impact: Cinnpie has been banned from all events of the tournament organizer 2gg-Gaming together with 5 other players (via twitter).
Furthermore, the hashtag “ArrestCinnamonDunson” trended on Twitter.
Cinnpie’s Twitter account is receiving many ugly messages. Twitter users accuse her of being a pedophile. They say she will lose her job and go to prison.
There are also many aggressive and hostile comments against her on Instagram, where Cinnpie is active.
Nintendo disturbed by allegations in Super Smash Bros.
What is going on in Super Smash Bros.? This wave of sexual allegations in gaming was set in motion on June 20 by allegations against the Destiny streamer “SayNoToRage”. The Super Smash Bros. community is particularly hard hit.
In recent days, dozens of players, commentators, and others have come forward with their stories, and there are already consequences. It mainly concerns sexual relationships with minors.
The Smash Bros. community is currently attracting young players. The scene has been tightly knit due to the “in-person” tournaments, which has often led to situations over the years that have resulted in these allegations.
Nintendo has already released a statement saying they are “deeply disturbed” by the allegations against members of the competitive community.
Currently, allegations of sexual harassment from the past are emerging in some games. Some of the most serious allegations were made against a player from the WoW top guild Method. The guild has since been disbanded:
WoW: Top guild falls apart after 15 years because they “buried their heads in the sand”
