As with any World Series of Poker, the game is the main focus of the annual event, but without fail, a major controversy is bound to dominate the news at some point.
On Monday, it involved a massage given to a poker player seated at one of the WSOP events. Although the event was not broadcast, “Frank The Tank” posted a video of a masseuse “massaging” his nipples while seated at the poker table. The video has since been deleted but screenshots were posted shortly after on Twitter.
The @WSOP should make a banner of this… pic.twitter.com/7gKRf5TvSi
— Uncle Ron (@UncleRonAA) June 6, 2022
Unsurprisingly, the tweet garnered mixed reactions from the poker community, with some giving it an “only in Las Vegas” shrug. Others pointed out the hypocrisy of attracting women in poker and some men’s reactions to the incident, not to mention that the masseuse was fired with no apparent consequences for the player.
After the photo went viral on Monday, came word that the masseuse had been fired.
Frank “The Tank” Stepuchin, an eccentric poker player known by some for “wacky antics,” apologized for the incident and asked that the WSOP to reconsider its decision.
I would like to apologize first to Cintia for asking you to massage my nipples as a complete joke. That does nothing to me and was not intended to be anything sexual. I’m always horsing around and having a good time with all my table mates. I realize sometimes I go (continued)
— FrankTheTank (@FrankTh55209538) June 6, 2022
to far and don’t think that I may be offending others. My sincere apology to anyone that was offended by my antics. Secondly I want to apologize to Professional Massage Inc. if I caused them any harm in regards to their reputation of being a first class respected company. Cont
— FrankTheTank (@FrankTh55209538) June 6, 2022
Thirdly I would like to apologize to the WSOP if I caused them any harm or brought bad light onto their organization. I will do my best to not get carried away having fun while not thinking of others around me. I never intended or want to make any players around me uncomfortable
— FrankTheTank (@FrankTh55209538) June 6, 2022
Lastly please please do not fire Cintia for this incident. I accept all the blame and if any action needs to be taken please place it on me. Sincerely Frank
— FrankTheTank (@FrankTh55209538) June 6, 2022
Frank “The Tank” later criticized Farrah Galfond, wife of Phil Galfond, who penned an opinion about the incident and hinted that Farrah Galfond may have played a role in the firing, a claim she denied in a tweet posted on Tuesday.
— Farah Galfond (@Farah_Galfond) June 7, 2022
Reaction to massage controversy
So @WSOP & many in the poker community say they want women to feel more comfortable in poker. Easy peasy. No prob. But when some poker player posts a video of himself getting an erotic nipple massage at the table during a tournament… @WSOP is silent. 1/
— Jennifer Newell (@WriterJen) June 7, 2022
The next time I’m at wsop, I’ll ask to talk to the massage company management and see if there’s anything I can do to help persuade them to un-fire the masseuse. I still stand by rightfully owned opinion as the situation completely grossed me out, but I’ve gotten wind that
— Farah Galfond (@Farah_Galfond) June 7, 2022
I’m officially asking everyone to retweet and tell your followers to stop getting messages at the WSOP until the fired female Masseuse get rehired! Let’s show our power twitterverse
— Anthony “Stretch” Reynolds (@StretchPoker) June 7, 2022
I’m walking down the halls to play the $1500 6 max and feel the wall BRUSH up against me. I look and it’s this creep. He asks “do I know you?” And I reply he looks familiar. Then he request a nipple massage. Wth is going on in the 2022 WSOP pic.twitter.com/YeQBPcmDid
— David Williams (@dwpoker) June 7, 2022