AP.Bren Apologizes Over JMPinkman’s Homophobic Remarks, Imposes Disciplinary Sanctions

AP.Bren has issued an official apology to the LGBTQIA+ community following homophobic remarks made by its player Jhon “JMPinkman” Sebastian, confirming that disciplinary sanctions have been imposed after an internal review.

In its Sunday, October 11, statement, AP.Bren said JMPinkman had expressed remorse and accepted the disciplinary action imposed under the organization’s player code of conduct. The team also pledged to cooperate with MPL Philippines on any further action.

“JM has expressed deep remorse for his actions and has committed to learning from this so that it does not happen again. Following an internal review, management has imposed the appropriate disciplinary action on JM under our player code of conduct, which he has already received and accepted. We are also coordinating with mpl philippines and will fully support any further action the league deems necessary,” AP.Bren wrote in an official statement.

The issue stemmed from a cryptic social media note posted by JMPinkman on Friday, October 9, in which he wrote, “P*tangina nitong dalawang bading.”

Although JMPinkman did not explicitly identify the individuals he was referring to, fans linked the post to former professional players and content creators Johnmar “OhMyV33NUS” Villaluna and Danerie James “Wise” Del Rosario, who host live watch parties featuring analysis of MPL Philippines matches.

The VeeWise duo regularly breaks down team strategies, player decisions, and crucial moments during their live watch parties, offering commentary on the performances of MPL Philippines teams.

Wise, in particular, is known for his playful banter while analyzing matches, including his remark about AP.Bren jungler JamesPangks’ efforts to carry the team.

The duo also previously scrutinized JMPinkman’s decision-making during AP.Bren’s match against defending champion Team Liquid PH.

During Game 2, JMPinkman’s Barats charged toward members of Team Liquid PH but was picked off, while gold laner Shizou was also caught out on Brody. Despite building a 7-0 lead, AP.Bren eventually lost the game. The costly plays became a point of discussion during VeeWise’s analysis.

The controversy intensified after JMPinkman published a cryptic note on Facebook, which fans interpreted as a response to the duo’s gameplay criticism. The remarks drew criticism from members of the MLBB community, particularly over the use of a homophobic slur.

OhMyV33NUS addressed the controversy during a VeeWise watch party, expressing her willingness to settle the issue privately and explain her side of the disagreement.

“JM, wag mo ako dinadaan sa mga parinig. Kung gusto mo ng suntukan, punta ka dito sa villa! Charot lang!” OhMyV33NUS jokingly said during Friday’s watch party.

“Kung meron man akong nasabi na hindi maganda sa kaniya, willing naman ako i-explain ‘yung side ko, especially kung in-game ‘yung pinuna ko,” she added.

Her remarks underscored her willingness to discuss the disagreement directly, while maintaining that her criticism concerned in-game decisions.

The controversy also recalls a similar incident involving Duane “Kelra” Pillas in 2021, when the then-Smart Omega player was suspended by MPL Philippines for homophobic remarks directed at OhMyV33NUS and Wise during a livestream.

On August 16, 2021, the league announced a 14-day suspension, an undisclosed fine, and a warning for Kelra and his team after finding the player in violation of rules on sexual harassment, discrimination, and denigration. The league also required players to attend a gender sensitivity and sexual harassment awareness seminar.

The Kelra case provides a precedent for league-level sanctions over discriminatory conduct in professional MLBB. While AP.Bren has confirmed disciplinary action against JMPinkman, the league has yet to announce whether it will impose additional penalties in the latest incident.