GAME SHAME
GAMING cronies of millionaire Fortnite cheat FaZe Jarvis have called for the teen's lifelong ban to be reduced.
One of his teammates has called for Jarvis' return to the game in a matter of weeks – despite Fortnite's "zero tolerance" policy on cheating.
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Surrey teen Jarvis, 17,sobbed on camera after being caught using notorious "aimbot" software – which shoots and kills rival players automatically.
As a result, Fortnite creator Epic Games banned him for life for breaching its rules.
Now one of his teammates has called for the ban to be shortened, despite Jarvis having been out of the game for less than a week.
"I still think it should just be a year. Or a season," said FaZe Pamaj on Twitter.
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Pamaj is a professional Call of Duty player who is part of the same FaZe Clan gaming team
He's referring to a Fortnite "season", which typically lasts around 10 weeks.
If that happened, Jarvis would be playing the game and earning money again just after New Year.
But the request has sparked anger among Fortnite fans who think the life ban is justified.
One user posting a screenshot of the thread to Reddit wrote: "FaZe Clan is scum for wanting a season ban and not kicking Jarvis."
Another wrote: "Not fair? Well don't do dumb things to ruin other people's game."
And an irate fan said: "Him being a public person makes what he died worse...and he should be held to a higher standard.
"He used his platform to promote cheats, and even went as far as telling his viewers how to get around an immediate ban when using cheats."
Jarvis and his gamer pals live in a multi-storey mansion up a steep drive in the Hollywood Hills.
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The £11.6million "FaZe House" has 10 bedrooms, a private cinema and swimming pool – and even a stripper pole.
But it's not clear if Jarvis will be allowed to stay at the house now he's no longer able to play Fortnite professionally.
This week, The Sun revealed how Jarvis has boasted that he'd make even more "aimbot" videos if his fans gave him more YouTube likes.
And Fortnite creators Epic Games told us that its decision to ban Jarvis is final.
"We have a zero tolerance policy for the usage of cheat software," an Epic Games spokesperson told The Sun.
"When people use aimbots or other cheat technologies to gain an unfair advantage, they ruin games for people who are playing fairly."
It comes as the teenage YouTube star's mum defended him , calling for forgiveness because he didn't "physically hurt anyone".
In his original clip (now deleted), cheating Jarvis brags: "I don't miss a shot."
And the YouTuber – who has earned an estimated £2million from gaming – even promised to make more cheating videos.
In the clip, he's heard saying: "You guys wanna see me play squad, duo with some people like that, may sure you give me a like."
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He's referring to playing live games against real players using aimbots in exchange for likes.
"That's gonna be a lit video," Jarvis boasted in his video.
"It was so much fun filming this. This was definitely one of the best videos I've ever filmed.
"May sure you leave a like for more aimbot fun and I'll see you on the next one."
But after Epic Games banned Jarvis, the sorry lad apologised and said he had only activated them for instruction videos – and never in competitions.
Speaking about his use of aimbots, Jarvis said: "All I was thinking about whilst I was making those videos was just how entertaining and interesting these videos would be for you guys to watch.
"It didn’t even cross my mind to think that I could be banned for life from Fortnite from those videos. I just want to be clear that this is the first time that I have ever done anything like this and of course I have never done this in a competitive game mode at all.
"Epic Games you know I know how big of a mistake I’ve made and I’m truly like so sorry.
"Epic, I know I have to take accountability for my actions and I’m going to do my best to accept any punishment that comes my way.
"I’m not trying to find a quick road out but being banned forever is just – a lifetime ban – is just, I just didn’t this would happen."
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But fans of the game have already branded him a "crybaby", and say the star knew the consequences of cheating.
"He also went on a separate PC to avoid a ban," said one gamer on Reddit.
"He knew exactly what he was doing, now he's just being a crybaby."
Another said: "I don't know how he can genuinely sit there and cry at a camera when he made the conscious decision to download and use hacks."
One furious player wrote: "Not only did he use cheats, he made a...15-minute video showing them off.
"That definitely warrants a lifelong ban. I don't understand how people can be defending this."
Many gamers point out that normal players receive bans for cheating – so online celebrities should be no different.
Fortnite's terms of service strictly forbid the use of cheating software, regardless of who is using them.
Some Fortnite fans pointed out that YouTube stars should be especially careful, because they can encourage other users to cheat.
"A famous person should be aware of the consequences. That's it," said one Reddit user.
"It's over, you learn your lesson. You face the same consequences as a normal person, and him being a content creator means a ton of people are going to hack.
"If it's a 3-month ban they'd be like 'oh I'll hack anyways, 3 months is a slap to the wrist'."
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Earlier this week, the star's mum, 60, told the Mail Online that the gaming community should "re-think how it treats people".
Speaking outside their family home, Mrs Khattri said: "Jarvis made an error and he admits that.
"He's broken. He loves that game. He doesn't have a devious bone in his body.
"What I really know is that for any mistake that doesn't physically harm a person, there should be the chance to make amends."
Mrs Khattri was speaking at the family's attractive detached home in leafy Surrey town Oxted, which could be worth around £1.3million.
Jarvis himself is believed to have made as much as £2million from his gaming career.
Using aimbots are banned by Epic Games’ rules and those caught can have their accounts locked and deleted.
Jarvis is a member of eSports team FaZe Clan and insisted he had only activated them for instruction videos and never in competitions.
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FaZE Clan was founded in the US in 2010 and competes in various video game tournaments.
Online game Fortnite is hugely popular and each 20 minute session sees competitors try and stay alive.
Famous fans include Spurs football ace Dele Alli who got the whole England squad interested last year in the World Cup.
In July this year 15-year-old Brit Jaden Ashman won £1million at the Fortnite World Cup.
Earlier this week #FreeJarvis was trending on Twitter with fans defending the player.
One supporter said: "But what about other YouTubers who hack and post videos on YouTube about it , they get away with it, and now cause it’s FaZejarvis there gonna do that, man @FortniteGame you guys are clowns."
Fortnite superstar FaZe Jarvis banned for cheating with aim-bot
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