An attendee at Pound 2019 launched a dead crab at Juan "Hungrybox" DeBiedma at Laurel Park in Maryland on Sunday following his championship win at that event's Super Smash Bros. Melee tournament.
After Hungrybox defeated Joseph "Mang0" Marquez in the grand finals of the event, a livestream of the event showed that a crab was thrown at Hungrybox on stage, which caused the player to become irate and address the crowd. The attendee who threw the dead animal on stage fled the venue but was identified, according to a tweet from commentator Phil "EE" Visu. The participant responsible was not named.
"Sorry for losing my temper," Hungrybox later tweeted. "Someone threw a f----- raw crab at me. After a 5 set losers run. Barely missed my head. What the f--- man."
On Sunday afternoon, Hungrybox lost to Mang0 in the first round of the top eight of the Pound 2019 Super Smash Bros. Melee tournament, knocking him down into the losers bracket. Hungrybox would go on to defeat several other top-ranked opponents, including Zain "Zain" Naghmi and Justin "Plup" McGrath, throughout the evening, before earning a grand finals rematch against Mang0. He would ultimately reset the bracket after winning three of four wins in the first series of that match, and then win the entire event by winning three more consecutive games.
We will be perma banning the guy btw. Probably will not be releasing his name publicly but will be submitting it to other Tournament Organizers. We will make an official statement from the Pound Twitter sometime this week so everyone knows this was handled immediately.
— Aposl @ Pound 2019 🤜🤛 (@VGBC_Aposl) April 22, 2019
Hungrybox has been the recipient of a significant amount of hate throughout his career in the Super Smash Bros. Melee scene.
Some of that hate stems from viewers disliking his playstyle, which often utilizes techniques that slowly and methodically win games such as ledge camping. Other critics have called out Hungrybox for previous abrasive verbal behavior, some which he exhibited as a teenager earlier in his professional gaming career and others where he has feuded with rivals online on social media. More recently, at Genesis 6 in Oakland, California, in January, Hungrybox received, "F--- you, H-box" chants as he took to the stage at Paramount Theater.
Despite the hate, Hungrybox has become the most successful Super Smash Bros. Melee player in the world. He is a one-time Evolution Championship Series champion, having one that event in August 2016, and over 25 other national Super Smash Bros. Melee events in the past five years.