An argument concerning worldwide geopolitics emerged on the World Series of Poker Paradise within the Bahamas on Wednesday when match officers knowledgeable Justin Bonomo he could be disqualified from the $25,000 tremendous foremost occasion if he continued to put on a keffiyeh scarf as play neared the televised last desk.
The black-and-white keffiyeh has been “adopted by Palestinians as a symbol of their aspiration and long struggle for independence, making it divisive to those who associate it with the fighting involved in that struggle,” in response to the New York Times.
Bonomo, who’s Jewish, has persistently proven his help for Palestinians on social media, and has pledged a portion of his winnings to charities that help the Free Palestine motion.
WSOP officers mentioned the difficulty needed to do with tv broadcast rights.
“The request for removal of Mr. Bonomo’s keffiyeh once he reached the TV production table was simply a matter of broadcast clearance,” sequence officers mentioned. “Our future distribution platforms for the super main event do not allow garments deemed controversial or political in nature.”
Facing the prospect of dropping a shot at a $6 million payday, Bonomo agreed to take away the headband. The three-time bracelet winner did nevertheless level out that whereas he understood the sequence having a blanket rule towards political apparel, he felt it was hypocritical that the WSOP hosted a charity fundraiser for Israeli Defense Force widows and orphans only a week prior within the Bahamas.
“[The] WSOP informed me that I will be disqualified from the tournament if I don’t take my keffiyeh off,” he famous. “Pretty fucked that they’ll run charity tournaments for the IDF but won’t let me wear a scarf because it was made in Palestine.”
3x WSOP Bracelet Winner Justin Bonomo inching his manner up the ladder one pot at a time! #WSOP #SuperMainEvent
Current chip stack – 22,450,000 (74.8BBs)
Tournament avg – 12,211,038 (40BBs) pic.twitter.com/9VBbeSxux9— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) December 18, 2024
Player Reaction Is Divided
Bonomo, who at present sits in second place on poker’s all-time cash checklist with $66.4 million in earnings, has posted quite a few instances concerning the want for shielding Palestinian civilians for the reason that Oct. 7 assaults and has known as for a ceasefire within the struggle. That has put him at odds with some pro-Israel poker gamers similar to Mike Matusow.
Matusow has been notably bothered by lots of Bonomo’s feedback, alleging that Bonomo is definitely supporting Hamas. He wasted no time in calling out Bonomo on Twitter concerning the incident, even calling for him to be jailed.
“He should not be allowed to play poker tourneys!” Matusow mentioned. “Can’t wait for Trump to throw people who support terrorism in jail! Maybe ‘jihadomo’ will be first!”
Matusow, after all, is not any stranger to jail himself, having served six months after making an attempt to promote narcotics to an undercover police officer.
Although gamers stay divided on the difficulty, not everybody’s response was as excessive as Matusow’s. Some had been appalled by the disqualification warning, whereas others famous that the sequence has a proper to determine how issues are run.
The latter view appeared to fall consistent with WSOP guidelines that observe: “Host Properties reserve the right at all times to impose a ban on any apparel deemed objectionable by Host Properties, in its sole and absolute discretion. Host Properties reserve the right to refuse entry or continued participation in an Event to any Participant who does not comply with the aforementioned apparel rules.”
“Whether you agree or disagree with Justin’s politics, this is maybe the most insane overstep by an operator in recent memory,” wrote outspoken high-stakes professional Matt Berkey. “I can’t fathom a world where they’d tell someone to remove their yarmulka or Star of David.”
The scarf was additionally worn within the match by poker professional and writer Michael Acevedo, who was eradicated early on. Bonomo was finally one of many 9 gamers reaching the ultimate desk and sits eighth in chips. While he wouldn’t apparently be sporting a keffiyeh, he was planning as an alternative to put on a Palestinian flag.
The Israeli-Palestinian battle has made its manner into poker headlines earlier than. Back in 2014, PokerStars banned political apparel of their occasions after high-stakes professionals Olivier Busquet and Dan Colman wore shirts that mentioned, ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘Save Gaza’ at a livestreamed excessive curler last desk.
In 2021, Mike Ruter took criticism for sporting a ‘Free Palestine’ shirt at a WSOP last desk. Ruter was a part of the duo that gained the Tag Team occasion, which had been heads-up with Israel’s Tomer Wolf and David Lander.
Player Reactions
Whether you agree or disagree with Justin’s politics, that is possibly essentially the most insane over step by an operator in current reminiscence. https://t.co/9zjwmt3YQv
— Matt Berkey (@berkey11) December 18, 2024
Only bc Justin is understood to be making a political assertion. Would they ask a random Sheik splashing round to take away? It additionally works each methods. I can not fathom a world the place they inform somebody to take away their yamaka or star of David or be DQ’d.
— Matt Berkey (@berkey11) December 19, 2024
The WSOP have painted themselves additional right into a partisan nook by banning @JustinBonomo from sporting a Palestinian scarf, and anybody celebrating the choice can shut up about ‘Cancel Culture’ eternally.
— Barny Boatman (@barnyboatman) December 19, 2024
I simply wanna say, 99.99 % of the graceful brains freaking out concerning the scarf wouldn’t even know wtf it’s if WSOP didn’t flip it right into a aspect present and Bonomo making it a “look at me” second.
— Teddy KGB (@SATX_Poker) December 19, 2024
Phil Hellmuth threatened to burn the Rio down throughout a live-streamed last desk and WSOP did nothing. Not even a one spherical penalty. Justin Bonomo wore what is basically a center jap scarf, and WSOP is threatening to DQ him.
— MattBlagg (@MattBlagg) December 19, 2024
He shouldn’t be allowed to play poker tourneys! Can’t watch for Trump to thow individuals who help terrorism in jail! Maybe jihadomo will probably be first! https://t.co/XKxfxSUiY7
— Mike Matusow (@themouthmatusow) December 18, 2024
So @JustinBonomo doesn’t have the keffiyeh on anymore and the entire sudden we see his face on the stream.
— Pragress (@PrahladFriedman) December 18, 2024
The Bonomo dialogue is fucking silly. Do i believe he needs to be allowed to put on the lil scarf? positive why not? But he solely wore it to be a performative little bitch and piss ppl off. It labored. He made the FT. Now he will get to bitch and jerk himself off some extra. WIN/WIN.
— (@SlayAbides33) December 19, 2024
WSOP forcing Justin Bonomo to take away his keffiyeh looks as if an oppressive overreach concerning freedom of expression, however if you happen to have a look at the precise particulars, the request is smart.
Read on… (1/x)
— Todd Witteles (@ToddWitteles) December 19, 2024
I despise Bonomo, am very pro-israel, and immediately choose individuals sporting a keffiyeh. And that is nonetheless full lolz_whatthefuck. Let him put on it. Wild.
— Falant (@Falkenby) December 19, 2024
To me it’s similar as sporting a swaztika! You’re both for Israel or for terrorist! Period https://t.co/WOWEKBCG4E
— Mike Matusow (@themouthmatusow) December 19, 2024
*Screenshot from WSOP
