Professional Super Smash Bros. player Jason ‘Mew2King’ Zimmerman has been barred from a competitive tournament after posting photos of his skin condition and alleging a bug infestation in his home, prompting health concerns that led organizers to exclude him.
According to a report by Virginia for IGN, Zimmerman went viral on the morning of October 16, 2026, following posts he published the previous day on Twitter/X. In them, he complained of swollen hands, which he attributed either to playing too much without rest or to bugs biting him at home.
“My hands are slightly swollen (could be from all the SSBM Fox or from the bugs in the house that bite me each day), like pink/red and puffy/fatter than usual, is there a way to fix this ASAP? I’m boarding my flight to Texas now,” he wrote.
Zimmerman shared photos of his hand and right leg, which was covered in red, painful-looking bumps resembling bug bites. He said the bites occur “every week” and were a factor in his decision to move from Ohio to California.
“I had like a hundred of these on my body two months ago. Like, my entire body. This isn’t even nearly the worst picture, not even close,” he wrote in another post. “It’s all bug bites from the house. Lived like that for all year. Or recent months.”
Fans expressed concern about his health and living conditions, with many speculating a bed bug infestation. Others urged him against flying or staying in hotels, warning he could spread the bugs—known to hide in luggage and clothing—which are prone to laying eggs at their next destination.
Tournament bars Mew2King over health concern
The story’s rapid spread drew intense discussion within the fighting game community, culminating in Xtreme Fighters Showdown barring Zimmerman from the event. The tournament’s CEO issued a statement on Twitter/X announcing his exclusion.
“For the safety of our event, XFS 2026, we have politely informed Mew2King he will not be able to participate or attend our event this weekend due to a self-reported health concern,” the statement read. “The health and wellbeing of our attendees 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 he will not able to participate or attend our event this weekend due to a self-reported health concern. The health and wellbeing of our attendees is our priority.
Thank you, and we’ll see you this weekend.Xtreme Fighters Showdown (@xfshowdown), October 16, 2026
Zimmerman has not issued any public update since the incident and deleted all tweets discussing his skin condition.
The episode marks another viral moment in competitive gaming. Pro DotA 2 player ’23savage was previously LINK_3: forced
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