Legendary Super Smash Bros. Melee player Joseph ‘Mang0’ Marquez has announced that he is three weeks sober, following a public fall from grace involving alcohol abuse.
The update comes a month after Mang0 was dropped by esports organization Cloud9 and briefly banned on Twitch due to his behavior at Ludwig’s Beerio Kart event on June 21, 2025.
The tournament, which required players to drink alcohol during Mario Kart races, saw Mang0 allegedly harassing fellow streamers including ExtraEmily. The incident led to widespread criticism, with some fans also blaming Ludwig for encouraging Mang0’s drinking. Despite this, Mang0 took full responsibility and revealed he’s now banned from Melee tournaments for a year.
“I think it’s fine,” Mang0 told fans during a July 21 Twitch stream. “If you’re a Mang0 fan, I’d appreciate it if no one harassed the TOs.”
Marquez confessed that a few days after the incident, he drank a full bottle of gin alone and broke down emotionally. He also shared that rehab was financially out of reach after losing 80% of his income, but he’s been getting support from professionals and plans to begin therapy once his insurance is reinstated.
While he hasn’t found AA meetings helpful, Mang0 is researching and using online resources to stay on track. “I’m proud to say… I am three weeks sober today,” he said. “I don’t really have the urge to drink.”
With a one-year ban in place, fans remain hopeful that Mang0 will return to competitive Smash stronger than ever.