Aquana · @ShinyAquana
8th Jul 2020 from TwitLonger
I’m sorry Gyger.
Dear god where do I even begin.
I didn’t even realize that this happened until now. I don’t know who will believe me when I say this, as most people probably don’t see me as trustworthy or credible. But after seeing a friend in the community come forward about his experience...I cannot stay silent. This is someone who I consider a good friend, and while I know he’s not a bad person...I have to speak up, or else this behavior may continue to be an issue. So whether you believe me or not, that’s up to you. But I’m sharing my story.
Gyger (aka itsagyger) sexually assaulted me too.
I dont know why I can’t recall a lot of it, but I would spend a lot of time with Gyger at GDQs. Especially this year, AGDQ 2020. He was always my safe haven at FDQs. I would always confide in him when I felt lonely or depressed and most of the time he would listen. I don’t fit in at GDQs because of my reputation in the community so often times I wander alone. Desperate for anyone to include me or acknowledge me. Gyger was one of the few that did, and it was because of him that I could enjoy many of the community parties because of the connections he had.
Whenever he was around....alcohol was there with him. And I’d usually drink quite a bit at GDQ. It was my way to escape from my insecurity at the events. I always knew my limits but I wanted to make sure I didn’t get blackout pukey drunk. But in any case I remember a particular moment this year when me and him were alone. I was having a nervous breakdown because I felt like an outcast, and he was there to cheer me up. I remember being in a hotel room, and being intoxicated. He was talking me out of my funk and when I hugged him....I felt his hands wandering. I was frozen on the spot. And the next thing I know I was making out with him. I had no context to what was going on, but it was definitely uncomfortable. But he was one of the only people I trusted to take care of me at the event, and I dared not speak a word of this. I told him “please stop touching me” in a trembling voice, but he didn’t hear me. I had to speak up louder for him to finally realize what he was doing and to pull away. It never went farther than that, but that’s what my memories recall. This isn’t the only time this has happened, he’d often get physical with me while was intoxicated at one of the Banjo parties a few years ago (2018). I didn’t think anything of it at the time because I was drunk and having fun. But when it happened again at GDQ 2020, I started to see a pattern. I assumed he had feelings for me that I wasn’t sure I felt, and that was that.
Like I said, Gyger isn’t a monster. I want to believe he’s a good person inside. But this behavior wasn’t just me. As of now, 3 people, myself and Profpoli included, have come out with our stories. This is predatory behavior and shouldn’t be allowed to continue. And honestly this hurts to write because he was my ONLY safe haven at GDQs.
Now that I realize I’ve been taken advantage of in such vulnerable states, idk who to believe or trust. Or even if people want “Chibi” to keep going to these events at all. But one way or another. Something has to change. Abusers do not deserve a platform or to be continually praised and given spotlight. They do not deserve to be heralded as kings at these events no matter how good at the game they are. We need to do better at curbing this kind of behavior and making safety and well-being of attendees a top priority.
This isn’t the end of the stories. Many people just like me are waiting to be heard, and some are trying to be heard. I understand that Cancel culture is a toxin, but this behavior is worse. People have so many emotional and mental scars from their experiences that people just seem to want to sweep under the rug. They don’t want to believe the truth, but people are out there. Hurting. Because they don’t have a voice. They don’t feel safe.
All I ask is that we listen to every story. Believe victims. Stand with them. No one ever deserves to be silenced. Even if others and people you know and trust would really prefer if you stayed quiet.