Lynnae is a journalist covering the intersection of technology, culture, and gambling. She has more than five years of experience as a writer and editor, with bylines at SlashGear and MakeUseOf. On the iGaming side,...
Read Full BioPolymarket’s Chief Legal Officer, Neal Kumar, posted an apology on X on Wednesday afternoon after what many considered a troubling silence following a racist post targeting users from India, Turkey, and Nigeria by an account linked to the company. The now-deleted post prompted widespread criticism and questions about the company’s oversight practices.
Kumar called the post “unacceptable” and said the business takes “full responsibility,” adding that learning the word’s history as an Indian American “sucked.” The slur he’s referring to is “Jeets,” which is used to mock or demean people of South Asian descent.
The controversy began earlier this week, when X account @PolymarketTrade posted that the affiliate badges of “Jeets, Turks, and Nigerians LARPing as egirls” would be revoked and directed them to “get your last slop posts in” before the end of the next day.
The backlash was swift, with users pointing out that, besides being racist, it was just bad business for the company to target three of the world’s largest crypto communities with hateful rhetoric.
Users Slam Post as Racist and Warn of Reputational Damage
Users didn’t waste time criticizing the post, with active Polymarket traders and affiliates with competitor platform Kalshi calling the language “disgusting,” “unpardonable,” and “extremely unprofessional.” Some said they believed the slur could deter future users, especially those from communities the platform hopes to reach.
One user pointed out the irony in Polymarket pursuing global expansion, including in India, while a branded account used a racist insult against people from that country. Another user called on the government of India to intervene, calling on it to “consider serious measures to protect the community and uphold dignity.”
Some responses were more sarcastic, implying the controversy didn’t come as much of a surprise: “You’re telling me the chudded out gambling slop company is immoral?”
For many X users, Kumar’s apology was too little, too late. They criticized the company for not addressing the allegations that its growth lead, William Legate, had amplified the message and given it an air of legitimacy by allegedly reposting it. Alex Finn, Founder and CEO of Creator Buddy, called on Kumar and Polymarket to rethink its strategy, saying: “Almost every official account tweets rage bait, misinformation, and lies. All just to drive engagement.”
Polymarket’s Response: Apology Without Answers
While the post in question was eventually deleted, the alleged involvement of Legate raised questions about whether the company’s senior leadership may have been involved or endorsed it, something that led to increased calls for accountability.
Even with Kumar’s apology, Polymarket’s main account and leadership, including CEO Shayne Coplan, have not commented publicly on the matter. Polymarket has not said who controlled the @PolymarketTrade account at the time of the post or whether any disciplinary action had been taken.
What has made the situation even more complicated is that the account in question has a history of promoting official affiliate initiatives, highlighting top users, and offering community resources, which has made its corporate affiliation unclear in the eyes of many users.
Tension Around “PolyBaddies” Affiliate-Badge Program
The deleted message referenced a “baddie” affiliate badge program that awards branded icons to popular women on the platform who help promote prediction markets. The threat of getting one’s badge revoked, identity requirements, and recent reinstatement delays have all stirred debate in the community.
Some users suspect that the derogatory post was directed at individuals the team viewed as being “low-effort” or using “AI-generated promo posts” within the affiliate system. Even if that’s the case, many pointed out that it’s no excuse for using racial slurs.
Making things even more complicated is the fact that the post came just days after X introduced automatic location disclosure for users. Users have spent the past several days unmasking accounts and questioning whether some affiliate badge-holders were actually located in Polymarket’s target markets.
CFTC Approval Overshadowed By Social Media Fallout
The uproar came just as Polymarket was celebrating a major regulatory milestone: receiving CFTC approval that paves the way for a regulated return to the U.S. after it was forced to block American users following a 2022 regulatory settlement.
The timing of the racist post has left many observers wondering whether the platform’s social media conduct could undermine its expansion efforts. As several users pointed out, using a racist slur during a period of anticipated growth, especially in markets like India, could do lasting damage to the company’s reputation.
