Super Smash Bros. player Mew2King was banned from tournaments after being bitten by the bug, raising health concerns.

Professional Super Smash Bros. player Jason 'Mew2King' Zimmerman has been banned from competitive tournaments for posting photos of his skin condition and complaining about an insect infestation in his home.

On the morning of October 16, 2026, Zimmerman went viral due to a series of posts he had published on Twitter/X the previous day. In these posts, he complained of swollen hands, either from playing too much without rest or being bitten by bugs in his house.

She went on to share a photo of her right hand and one leg covered in painful red bumps that looked like insect bites. Zimmerman claimed the bites happened to him "every week" and were a driving factor in his decision to move from Ohio to California.

In another post, she explained: "I had a hundred of these on my body two months ago. Like my whole body. This isn't even close to the worst pic, not even close." "It's all bug bites from the house. I've lived like this all year. Or the last few months."

Needless to say, fans were rather concerned about Zimmerman's health and living conditions, with many theorizing that he was suffering from a bed bug infestation. Others encouraged her not to get on a plane or stay in a hotel, saying she might spread the so-called bed bugs, which are known to sneak into luggage and clothing to lay eggs at the next destination.

News of Zimmerman's condition quickly spread online, causing a spate of discourse in the fighting game community — to the point where the tournament he was competing in, Xtreme Fighters Showdown, banned him from the event entirely.

The tournament CEO released a statement on the situation on Twitter/X, warning people that Mew2King was no longer invited to participate in the tournament due to his health issues.

"For the safety of our event, XFS 2026, we have politely informed Mew2King that he cannot attend or participate in our weekend event due to a self-reported health concern," the statement read. "The health and well-being of our contestants is our priority. Thank you, and we'll see you this weekend."

Good evening, a message from our CEO, M333:

For the safety of our event, XFS 2026, we have politely informed Mew2King that he will not be able to attend or attend our weekend event due to a self-reported health concern.

The health and well-being of the participants is our priority.

Thanks, and see you this weekend.

— Xtreme Fighters Showdown (@xfshowdown) October 16, 2026

Zimmerman hasn't given any public updates since this latest development, and has since deleted all tweets discussing her skin condition.

After pro DotA 2 player '23savage' was forced to play against police officers after law enforcement raided one of his team's training camps, this is the latest viral moment to make headlines in the competitive gaming space.

And in September, Pokémon VGC regional champion Dongwon Yum claimed to have lost a match due to his opponent's strong stench, prompting players across the community to use deodorant in matches.

Virginia (she) is the news editor for IGN. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, he has a background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.