Team PokerStars Pro member Daniel Negreanu‘s hurtful remarks about UB.com’s Annie Duke during interview with PokerPlayer.co.uk have sent the poker community taking sides between the two superstars. Negreanu called Duke a “f***ing c***” during what Negreanu thought to be an “off the record” conversation with writer Mark Stuart last week. His comments were published, however, and a verbal spat between the two sides followed.
In the article, titled “The Evolution of Daniel Negreanu,” Negreanu was asked what irked him about the 2010 World Series of Poker Ladies Event in which more than a dozen men played. Negreanu voiced his disgust at the whole situation and then went on a tirade about Duke, who has never been an advocate of the Ladies Event as a believer of sexual equality at the poker table. “What irked me is that this woman has the audacity on her website to call herself ‘the best female poker player in the world.’ So I’m like ‘how offensive are you, you f***ing c***? You want to say you’re speaking for women, yet you claim superiority over all of them.’”
The article was quickly passed through forums and other social media networks and eventually made its way to Duke, who was astounded by the comments made about her. Responding to the verbal assault, Duke wrote on Twitter, “Thank you for the support. I was certainly shocked at the language myself. I welcome criticism, but not abuse.”
PokerStars received word of the remarks made by Negreanu, the site’s most famous spokesperson, and one member of the PokerStars support team replied to an e-mail sent by a player on the site: “Although Daniel Negreanu is a Team PokerStars Pro, he is an entity to himself and as such will always be encouraged to express his views and speak his mind as he would otherwise do so, PokerStars Pro or not.”
Needless to say, Duke wasn’t satisfied with that response. She fired back with an “Open Letter to PokerStars” on her website demanding some sort of reprimand: “I am not offended by Daniel’s opinion. He has a right to disagree with me and dislike me. And I, just like PokerStars, would encourage him to express his views and opinions. This is not about his views. It is about a particular word he chose to express those views. The word “c**t” is not an opinion, it is an abusive epithet, and PokerStars is completely ignoring the use of that term in their response.”
Duke continues, “But more distressing is the use of the word ‘encouraged’ here. So, PokerStars, you are encouraging Daniel to continue to express views in this manner, to conduct these public attacks using offensive slurs and inappropriate language? I am more than dismayed that PokerStars is making a statement here that they encourage this kind of behavior, this kind of language use. According to PokerStars, this kind of behavior enriches our community.”
PokerStars then answered with an official statement in response to Duke’s letter, saying that the first e-mail was not PokerStars’ official statement on the issue: “PokerStars does not support the use of derogatory or hurtful language directed at any other player. While this was a personal matter between two players, we wish that better judgment had been used in the choice of words.”
Several high profile poker players have weighed in on the conflict, including Duke’s brother and Full Tilt Poker pro Howard Lederer, who came to her defense with a Twitter update shortly after the article was posted. “Hey Daniel, nice job representing poker and reinforcing that our attitude towards women is still Neanderthal,” Lederer said. “I understand some agree w DN on the ladies poker event issue. Many do. But abusing those you disagree with is never cool.”
Even the brazen Tony G offered to act as a mediator. “Let’s smooth over this situation, let’s try and forget that it ever happened. I know this fantastic place in Utah where you can get away from the world and I will pay for you to both go there and relax and chill out,” the PartyPoker pro said in his blog Wednesday. “You are both important ambassadors for the game we love – please let’s resolve this in a diplomatic manner otherwise someone is going to get really hurt.”
Negreanu has yet to offer an apology to Duke, which will certainly cause even more tension at the tables in the future. It’s public knowledge that the two haven’t gotten along since even before the poker boom of 2003 and it’s certainly keeping the community talking. Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for more high-stakes drama.
I Love Daniel, and I also like Annie. its a shame it was said, but that is how he feels, it was suppose to be off the record, but the publisher accomplish just what he wanted. ONE BIG FIGHT.
Daniel is a little punk, but I understand why he hates her,he just needs to keep it to himself. Annie attacking pokerstars is a joke, look at the cheats she works for. (UB)
First amendment Annie. You should know this one. I say good for Daniel. She is being an ass with comments like that, and deserves to be called out on it.
Own up to the fact that what you said was hurtful. Please don’t hide behind the excuse of “oh I didn’t know what I said was off the record.” If you didn’t want her to hear it, then apologise, if you did want to really say that to her, then tell it to her face.
bout time someone tells it like it is thanks danny more sucessful women in poker hav not had the cameras like dukw i prefer puke o well kathy liebert had almost 2 million in tournament earnings when pike had only 500 000 and change i 15 to 17 yrs of tournament play whe she bested the 100 plus in omaha for her first and onlt tournament win which allowed the wsop to hav there 1st an only 2 million one table winner to tke all table yo her credit she won 66 ss over 7ns etc problem was there were many more deserving women bypassed for her to play there inc liebert harmon dollison liew to nme a few the poker world knows what is yhanks again danny
Daniel is a perfect representative for jokerstars. Real players play at fulltilt. Suckers play at jokerstars. Negreanu, you’re a loser. That’s why fulltilt pros clean your clock on high stakes poker. You couldn’t beat Ivey, Durrrrrr, Hansen, Benyamine or any of the other fulltilt pros. Maybe picking on Duke makes you feel like a man. I hope it does. Don’t play her in poker though, she’ll do what everyone else has done to you this year, smoke your punk ass!
His comments were only anti Duke which is okay by me because I also hate Annie Duke. Did you see her bitch out somebody when she caught her straight flush in the Main event this year? The person thought he had caught his high flush, and she tore him apart with her poor attitude. She has no class, and her crying to PokerStars shows her maturity level too. Daniel’s words were harsh but they were true and honest. And its just a word.. who cares. It would be different if he were hating a race or women in general, but if anything he’s defending women. He’s right. Team Daniel right here
the “c” word is not nice, that being said, duke is one of the shadiest, self serving player, ever. many people agree, didn’t believe it until I saw it first hand myself, she’s dog eat dog style, i’m sure daniel can’t apologize b/c he’s not sorry, i wouldn’t be either, again, the “c” word is not nice tho, “vulture” would’ve been a better word to describe her.
DN is absolutely wrong to use that kind of language. HE SHOULD PUBLICLY APOLOGIZE for doing so.
However Annie statement “The Best Female Poker Player of the World” made by herself is absolutely wrong and is egotistical and megalomaniac, and is inconsistent with her view that supports the sex equalities in Poker.
what happened to sticks and stones may break my bones but names will NEVER hurt me. now go stand in the corner for 10 min. for saying the naughty words and duke 10 min. for being a tattle tail
I’ve played with Annie Duke many times. She is indeed a f**king c**t. She is also lacking in personal hygiene. As for her brother Howard Lederer, I hope he spends many years in prison for his massive fraud. Either that, or in exile to avoid the beat down due to him by all of the players he stole money from.
As for Daniel, I’ve played with him since he was grinding it out at the 15-30 limit holdem at Bellagio all the way up to WSOP and WPT events. He has always been a fun and gracious person to play with.