Gus Hansen Tweet Sparks Intense ControversyTakes To Social Media Around Christmas To Talk About Howard Lederer |
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On Christmas day, poker professional Gus Hansen started a series of three Tweets that resulted in a storm of public Internet backlash. Hansen was commenting on Howard Lederer, who just recently settled his civil case with the U.S. government.
Hansen got things going by saying:
Never underestimate stupid people in large groups – explanation will follow!
— Gus Hansen (@RealGusHansen) December 26, 2012
He then wrote:
If the ‘We hate Howard Lederer’ group would hate on banks and insurance companies, I would have some sympathy- as it is- get a fu**ing grip!
— Gus Hansen (@RealGusHansen) December 26, 2012
Do people hate Howard Lederer because of evidence of foul play or because Daniel Negreanu and Jason Mercier tells everybody to hate him?
— Gus Hansen (@RealGusHansen) December 26, 2012
The last comment was highly retweeted and received numerous replies, nearly all of which were in disagreement. Some notable poker pros responded to Hansen.
Just unfollowed @realgushansen for supporting the biggest criminal in our industry, Howard Lederer. Good luck with that $2mil downswing bro.
— Philip Collins (@USCphildo) December 26, 2012
@realgushansen Wow. I knew you were a dumb ass…but not a fucking retard. Sweet biceps bro.
— Brent Hanks (@Bhanks11) December 26, 2012
@realgushansen Surely you’re too smart to ask this, but the answer is any one of several legit reasons, like taking ROW deposits post BF.
— Tony Dunst (@Bond_18) December 26, 2012
@realgushansen Smart play brah! U just dipped yourself in a pool of honey and shook on the branch with the bee nest attached. #genius
— Matt Glantz (@MattGlantz) December 26, 2012
Haha @realgushansen you must be an absolute moron. Haha not much more to say than that #growup
— Kyle Julius (@KJulius10) December 26, 2012
US players relocate & are help rebuild the @fulltiltpoker brand.We still don’t know when we get $ & then @realgushansen spits in our face!
— Kevin MacPhee (@KevinMacPhee) December 29, 2012
Wait, @bhanks11 @kevinmacphee – is @realgushansen the real Gus Hansen? Say it isn’t so! Feel like a 5 yr old finding out Santa isn’t real.
— Matthew Waxman (@Matthew_Waxman) December 29, 2012
Even Black Friday defendant Chad Elie chimed into the conversation.
@realgushansenYour100%correct, Howard is just like the banks,fat,lots of cash & likes to rub it in our faces even after he stole from us.
— Chad Elie (@BlackFridayChad) December 26, 2012
While the response was overwhelmingly negative, at least one big name poker pro thought Hansen had a legitimate point.
This and Gus’ other tweets were dead on. Community response proves that RT @realgushansen Never underestimate stupid people in large groups
— Shane Schleger (@ShaneSchleger) December 30, 2012
The Tweet wasn’t contained to Twitter, as Hansen’s comments were also posted on Internet poker forums and received hundreds of replies in a week’s time.
Unlike Lederer and others associated with the old company, Hansen was never accused of any misconduct. He told Card Player this fall a little bit about his decision to rejoin Full Tilt Poker, now under the ownership of former industry rival PokerStars.
According to HighstakesDB, Hansen lost more than $3.1 million on the software between Nov. 6 and the end of 2012 — worst in the online poker world.