PapaSmithy Apologizes for FlyQuest's Co-Streaming Video as LCS Playoff Match Gets Overshadowed

FlyQuest President and Chief Gaming Officer Christopher Smith has posted a public apology for the organization's controversial League of Legends co-streaming video, which heavily featured Marc Caedrel and Christian IWDominate as negative examples. The video, published five months ago in April, used what Smith described as a "sinister" thumbnail of Caedrel and carried messaging that contrasted external co-streamers unfavorably with FlyQuest's own creators.

Smith called the video a "misfire" that "missed the mark," stating: "League of Legends esports still thrives in 2026 because of the hard work and community building of creators like Caedrel & IWDominate." The video has now been unlisted on FlyQuest's YouTube channel.

The controversy intensified during LCS playoffs when Caedrel watched FlyQuest's 0-3 upper bracket loss to Team Liquid, openly describing it as a "hatewatch." Smith acknowledged the timing problem in his apology, posted on X the day before FlyQuest's elimination match against Shopify Rebellion: "In 24 hours our LCS team plays an elimination Best of 5 for Worlds, yet the match itself is going to be overshadowed by a tone deaf youtube doc about costreamers we published 5 months ago with a clickbait thumbnail of Caedrel."

Smith expressed particular concern about the unintended message. "The worst part for me is that there will be reasonable people out there who think that FlyQuest hates Caedrel (we do not) or hates costreamers (we do not)," he wrote. "That simple fact tells you how much a video intended to have a nuanced discussion on the rise of costreaming missed the mark in content and execution."

Smith also apologized to FlyQuest's own creators and players who have become collateral damage. "We have unfairly dragged them into a topic they didn't endorse, and any scorn they've received should be redirected to FlyQuest and only us," he stated.

However, Caedrel disputed a key claim in Smith's apology. Smith had asserted that he reached out privately in April to apologize, but Caedrel denied this on stream, explaining that their direct messages contained only feedback exchanges, not an apology. "There was never a 'sorry,'" Caedrel said. "All that happened in the DMs was I messaged Papa, and I was like, 'Bro, what the f**k is this thumbnail?'" Caedrel described the conversation as Smith offering to pass along feedback and suggesting a future one-on-one chat that never materialized.

Caedrel also questioned why the apology came only when the situation affected FlyQuest rather than when co-streaming controversy peaked. "I don't want to be that deep about it," he added, later clarifying he holds no ill will toward Smith, the players, or coaching staff.

The situation illustrates broader tension around co-streaming's role in esports viewership. Smith acknowledged that Caedrel's co-stream brings significant value to LCS playoffs, noting that the co-streamer brings "50k new unique viewers" to matches. Despite the controversy, Caedrel stated he would not 'hatewatch' FlyQuest's lower bracket match due to his relationship with Shopify Rebellion co-owner Ludwig Ahgren.