Police have arrested a 24-year-old “super fan” on suspicion of assault, among other things, after he allegedly harassed a prominent female “esports” star and her friends on a busy Hong Kong street over the weekend.
The well known gamer, 22-year-old Deer Chan, had been having dinner with her friends at Chong Hing Square in Mong Kok on Saturday night. When the group left the building at 11pm, a male fan, surnamed Lam, was waiting outside with a camera, and began taking photos of Chan.
Despite being told by Chan to stop, Lam continued to snap photos and tail the group, prompting Chan’s male friends to form a wall around her and try to leave, Apple Daily reported.
At that point, Lam allegedly shoved one of Chan’s friends to the ground and began dragging him by the legs after the man, a 35-year-old surnamed Leung, stood in front of Lam to stop him from taking photos.
Police were called to the scene and, after a preliminary investigation, found several indecent photos, including some upskirt photos, on Lam’s camera.
One eyewitness, surnamed Chan, told the newspaper that he recognized the esports athlete last night, and overheard her telling her friends “thank goodness you guys were here.”
Leung, the friend who was shoved, sustained injuries to his hands and legs, while Lam sustained hand injuries. Leung was taken to Kwong Wah hospital for treatment, while the suspect refused treatment.
Chan accompanied the police to the station for further inquiries.
Officers arrested Lam on suspicion of loitering, outraging public decency, and common assault. A police spokesperson confirmed to Coconuts HK over the phone that Lam was released on bail and has to report back to the police station in July.*
Chan is the leader of an esports team called PandaCute, an all-female video gaming team that competes in the multiplayer online battle game “League of Legends.”
According to the South China Morning Post, PandaCute is the first all-female professional gaming team, and is reportedly the number one team in Hong Kong.
NOTE: This article has been updated to include comment from a police spokesperson.
