Fortnite Pro Player Caught Cheating Issues Public Apology and Returns Prize Money

Morgan “RepulseGod” Bamford, a once-prominent figure in the Australian Fortnite scene, found himself in hot water at the 2023 Fortnite Champion Series held in Copenhagen. The controversy began when he was caught sharing his account with another player to secure a spot in this prestigious event. Bamford’s account, possibly used by his partner, Jace, clinched first place in an August qualifier, paving their way to the $4 million Global Championship. However, their celebration was short-lived once Epic Games uncovered Bamford’s forbidden maneuver.

Fast forward to 2024, and Epic Games made it clear they were stepping up their battle against cheaters and unauthorized sellers of cheating tools. This crackdown saw Bamford facing legal consequences, culminating in a lifetime ban from any future Fortnite tournaments. Epic Games took legal action against him, which also meant his prize money would form part of a settlement, though the company has kept specifics under wraps. What we do know is that every penny of the settlement will support the Child’s Play charity.

As part of his repercussions, Bamford was tasked with issuing a public apology via his personal YouTube channel. In a succinct 15-second video, he confessed, “I shared my Epic Games account with Forbes to qualify for the 2023 Fortnite Championship Grand Finals. My actions breached Epic’s rules, leading to my disqualification,” he explained. He continued, “Epic pursued legal action, banning me permanently from tournaments. I’m also required to settle financially, relinquishing unfairly won prize money, which Epic will donate to charity. Cheating tarnishes the experience for the rightful competitors, and I sincerely apologize to the Fortnite community. I vow never to repeat this.”

Bamford and Jace initially pocketed $20,000 from their now-tainted qualifying success. Known for a history of competitive participation, Bamford had amassed considerable tournament winnings over the years. Notably, he had previously accused Epic Games in 2020 of withholding prize money from a DreamHack event, where he earned $12,500 for a solo fourth-place finish.

Meanwhile, Epic Games didn’t stop there. They also initiated legal proceedings against another player, Sebastian “Sabortian” Araujo. This lawsuit, announced through Epic’s social media channels in December, accused Araujo of utilizing cheat software and hardware across various lower-tier weekly events, reaping substantial rewards in the process. As of a February 9 court document viewed by Polygon, Araujo’s case remains ongoing.