The poker community on X had been fairly quiet after the U.S. presidential election — but that peace didn’t last long. Things took a dramatic turn when Vanessa Kade called out CoinPoker for signing Benjamin “bencb789” Rolle as their ambassador, accusing him of being an “overt sexist.” She described the hire as “disappointing,” and what followed was a fiery clash that drew in poker vlogger Ryan Depaulo.
What started as a critique spiraled into an ugly social media battle, with personal accusations flying back and forth.
How It All Started
Both Kade and Depaulo used to represent ACR Poker, a platform that has faced criticism for being unregulated and plagued by bot problems. The tension stems from something Rolle said in June when asked on Instagram whether men have an advantage over women in poker.
Rolle’s response sparked outrage:
“Anyone arguing that men have no advantage in poker is simply delusional. Why are there barely any women in the top 100 all-time money list?”
He went on to say that “men are simply more competitive,” a comment that didn’t sit well with many in the poker world, Kade included. Months later, she brought it up again after CoinPoker announced Rolle’s new role:
“I love this industry so much, but it’s so disheartening to see that being openly sexist carries no consequences,” she wrote on X.
Ryan Depaulo Joins the Fray
Depaulo, who left ACR earlier this year amid a conflict of interest, wasted no time firing back at Kade. He accused her of being a toxic presence during their time at ACR.
“You don’t make content, you don’t stream anymore, and you were just a negative, toxic drain as a coworker,” Depaulo wrote.
He didn’t stop there. Depaulo claimed Kade had benefitted from her gender in the poker world and defended Rolle, arguing that the online poker pro had made just “one not-nice comment.” By contrast, Depaulo described Kade as “the essence of not nice.”
What followed was a heated exchange about their history at ACR. Kade accused Depaulo of harassing her and other female streamers, as well as making demeaning remarks in group chats. In response, Depaulo posted videos challenging her to provide evidence of her claims.
“Send me all the receipts you’ve got because none of this is true,” Depaulo said in one video. However, he did admit, “I wasn’t very nice to you when you joined ACR.”
Kade Hits Back
Kade wasn’t about to back down. She responded by sharing screenshots from their group chats that painted a less-than-flattering picture of Depaulo’s behavior.
One of the messages he allegedly sent read:
“Stop being a clown. You can’t have it both ways — getting popular just for being a woman while playing the SJW card.”
Kade also pointed out that Depaulo’s behavior didn’t improve, even after what she described as a forced apology during a team video call. She claimed the apology was insincere, as Depaulo went on to insult her multiple times afterward.
A Divided Poker Community
The poker world had mixed reactions to the feud. Some criticized Depaulo’s messages, calling them “unhinged,” while others seemed entertained by his bluntness. The drama even unearthed unrelated accusations involving another poker player, adding even more layers to the chaos.
In the end, this public spat left the poker community polarized. While there’s no clear winner in this argument, one thing’s for sure — it’s got everyone talking.
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Photo and news courtesy pokernews.com
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