Astralis in-game leader Rasmus “HooXi“ Nielsen has announced that he is stepping away from social media for the time being after receiving death threats and severe online abuse following the team’s early exit from the IEM Cologne Major 2026.
HooXi is the in-game leader (IGL) and rifler for Astralis’ Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) roster. The Danish player has been a key part of the team’s lineup since joining as the squad’s tactical leader.
Astralis had a disappointing run at the IEM Cologne Major 2026. The team was eliminated in Stage 2 with a 1-3 record. While Astralis managed to defeat GamerLegion, they suffered losses to 9z, TYLOO, and paiN Gaming.
Following the elimination, several Astralis players were targeted with online abuse. However, much of the criticism was directed at HooXi. According to the player, he received highly inappropriate direct messages, personal insults, and even death threats from people online. As a result, HooXi decided to take a temporary break from social media to deal with the situation and regain his confidence.
Astralis publicly condemned the harassment and expressed support for its captain. In a statement, the organisation and Owner Jonas Gundersen called the abuse “unacceptable” and said it was something they would “never understand.”
Gundersen also called for stricter regulations on social media platforms and better ways to take legal action against people who engage in online harassment. He stressed that professional players are “humans trying their best” and urged fans to show respect instead of engaging in what it described as “insanity.”
Toxic behaviour and death threats have become recurring issues in esports, especially after major tournament losses. Players often become targets of personal attacks despite competing under immense pressure.
A similar case involved League of Legends star Lee Sang-hyeok (“Faker“) from T1, who faced multiple death threats over the years. In 2023, a user on the online forum DC Inside threatened to visit T1’s team accommodation and harm Faker with a weapon. The threat led to a police investigation, while the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) strengthened security measures at LoL Park. Faker also pursued legal action against individuals who posted malicious comments online.
Esports organisations have increasingly started taking stronger action against online harassment. Earlier, Arnold Hur, CEO of Gen.G, announced that the organisation had set up a dedicated legal team to tackle online attacks, harassment, and false information directed at the team’s players, staff, fans, and even their families.
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