The world of competitive Pokémon is known for its strategic depth and passionate community, but for one of its most celebrated champions, it has become an environment of repeated personal violation. Wolfe Glick, a former World Champion and a popular content creator with over two million subscribers, has announced he is stepping back from in-person tournaments. The reason behind his decision is both shocking and sobering: in a recent video titled “Moving Forward,” Glick revealed that at five out of the last seven tournaments he attended, he was groped by fans while taking pictures.
Glick, who just won the 2025 European Internationals, described the unsettling pattern. Fans would use the pretext of taking a photo to place their hands on him in a sexual and non-consensual manner. He expressed his frustration, stating that it’s clear to any reasonable person that this is not normal behavior. While he admitted he doesn’t know why he has been targeted so frequently, the fact remains that these violations have become a predictable part of his tournament experience. This persistent invasion of his personal space has fundamentally changed his relationship with the competitive scene he loves.
The groping incidents, which Glick described as happening “once or twice at most events,” were not the sole reason for his departure, but they were a significant part of a larger problem. He also cited issues with fans physically grabbing him to get his attention and ongoing neck pain that is exacerbated by the travel and stress of competitions. These factors combined have made tournaments “less and less fun to attend,” transforming what should be a professional and competitive environment into a source of anxiety and discomfort.
The situation reached a tipping point at this year’s Pokémon World Championships in Anaheim. The cumulative stress and discomfort became so overwhelming that Glick felt forced to leave the venue on the final day. Instead of being present for the climax of the competition, he watched the finals from the isolation of his hotel room. This moment crystallized his decision, leading him to declare that it is “entirely possible” he may never compete in or attend another World Championships again.
Glick emphasized that his primary reason for attending tournaments is to compete, not to serve as a public figure for fan interaction. While he understands and appreciates his fans, the balance has been “way off.” For now, he will be skipping the next several months of events, including the Toronto Regionals, which he won last year. His announcement echoes a similar sentiment shared by other online personalities, like streamer Emiru, and serves as a stark reminder that even in seemingly benign communities, the lines of consent must be respected.
