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Richard "Ricky" Bengston[1] (born: October 18, 1991), better known online as FaZe Banks (also known as Ricky Banks or simply Banks), is an American YouTuber from Massachusetts. He is one of the founders and owners of e-sports organization of FaZe Clan. He currently lives in Los Angeles, California in the FaZe house with other members of the organization. His channel is currently inactive, however he continues to build FaZe Clan by recruiting talent/employees for the organization.
History
Banks used to make short 30 - 60 second clips of trickshots or insane kills as his beginning of the FaZe Banks channel. Banks was a member of SoaR and was 'SoaR Banks' before being entered to FaZe in 2013. Banks has continued doing Black Ops 2 and Black Ops 3 videos along with CS:GO. Ever since moving in to the Clout House on March 20, 2017, Banks started doing more vlogs with other YouTube Vloggers who live at the Clout House.
In 2019, Banks stopped uploading to his channel and has focused much more on building FaZe Clan and co-hosting his podcast "Moms Basement" with Keemstar and Colossal is Crazy
Controversy
Team 10 vs Banks
On August, 2017, Jake Paul has made a video talking about a situation that occurred with Banks and Team 10. Jake Paul's assistant, Megan Zelly, was "Clotheslined by Banks and gave her a bruise on the neck". Banks did respond to Jake's video and said that he does not remember doing that. Banks did claim that there was a chance that he accidentally hit her because he was dancing. He was explaining throughout the video every detail he and his 2 friends remembered and what Jake Paul did to make them look bad.
On August 23, 2017, Banks did an interview with a Team 10 member known as Max Beaumont, who was there during the situation.[2] Max explained on Wednesday, the week the situation happened, it was only him and Megan, but nobody kissed each other. Max also said that he did not see Banks assault anybody including Megan on that night of the incident. Banks did ask Max how Banks was acting towards Everybody including Max. Max says that Banks thanked Max, hugged him, and wasn't aggressive towards Max at all. Banks did ask Max if anybody in Team 10 did say that Banks kissed Megan, and Max responded with Yes. Banks also did say that he might not be able to share the security footage of the incident publicly either. But lawyers and managers are taking a look at it while Banks and Megan is. Banks also asked Max for full detail in honesty, Max also said that Megan knew the incident was an accident.
After the conclusion of the incident, Banks gained about 1 million subscribers in a week, with Jake Paul losing 200,000 subscribers, right after reaching 10 million subscribers and went down to 9.8 million subscribers.
in May 5th, Banks and Paul announced their beef was over and let the past be the past.[3]
The Barley House vs Banks
On November 2017, Banks and Alissa Violet went out to go to the Barley House for a thanksgiving night. However, there was a brawl that went down. Alissa was attacked by 2 Barley House staff members. One being a girl, and another was a guy. Alissa went down the stairs to use the bathroom, and then an argument went down as Banks was waiting. And when the argument went on, a fight went on between Banks and a Barley staff inside. And as Banks calmly walked outside, they were unable to leave for the next 10 minutes. When they got out, Alissa and a staff was fighting. And as a staff was breaking it up, Alissa was tackled down, and Banks tried to protect her. After it was settled, they were unable to leave due to investigation. After the next 10 minutes, a the same staff at Barley hit Alissa and the other same staff tried breaking it up. The staff was gabbing Alissa by the neck, and Banks was fighting him because of holding her in the neck. Banks broke his third finger on his left hand as he was fighting. Alissa's lip was busted open along with a black eye.
Barley House did make a response video to this, and so did Banks. But the video Banks did was 3 weeks later due to Barley House successfully filing a Training Restriction Order to Banks, meaning he could not respond to the matter or speak out. Banks claimed in the response video that he got a lot of lawyers just to make the video. Banks responded saying that everything the Barley Commentator said was a lie, mainly because the commentator was not there during the incident. Ever since Banks's response, he was sued, went to Court, and was forced to delete the video. However, people has re-uploaded the video and is still viewable today. Banks had to pay $150,000 for making that video.
Ever since, Banks never responded about the situation ever again. He did make one tweet saying that he is done and wants to move on. Banks did not upload for 2 months ever since the situation and the response video. However, Jake and Logan were seen partying at the Barley House, with many suspecting they had something to due with the situation although nothing was brought up after the matter.
Tfue Sues FaZe
On May 20, 2019, Tfue sued FaZe for allegedly limiting his ability to pursue his career. This is a violation of the California Law, a state FaZe house takes in.
Turner says he's missing out on opportunities because of FaZe Clan's illegal activity in connection with a deal he signed in April 2018, keeping only 20% of the revenue from any branded videos that are published on Twitch, YouTube or social media alongside half of his revenue from touring and appearances. Turner also says FaZe Clan pressured him to live in one of its homes in the Hollywood Hills with other young YouTubers, where he says he was given alcohol before legal age (21 years old) and encouraged to illegally gamble. Turner also decided to leave FaZe Clan the same day on his own will so he can pursue his career on his full control.
Banks's Response
Banks made a response to the allegations on Twitter, stating that the allegations were made up and lies. Fans replied saying Banks is lying. FaZe Clan on Twitter made a response stating that they collected no money from the tournaments he competed, Twitch/YouTube revenue, and from other social media. FaZe claimed they only collected $60,000 from partnerships and with Turner collecting millions during the time in FaZe clan.
Banks then made a response on YouTube stating that Turner was the one pressuring people into doing things. As soon as Tfue went to Los Angeles to meet Banks and other YouTubers, Turner immediately went to the Hollywood Reservoir and did stunts as usual. He strongly and successfully attempted to make others do it.
Banks then mentions about a deleted video Turner uploaded, where a party took place at Turner's current girlfriends' house before turning 21 years old. A BB gun was shot through someone's cheek as another stunt, and drinking was involved.
Tfue's Response
On May 22, 2019, Turner made a brief two minute video quickly addressing the allegations of being pressured to illegally gamble, drinking, and performing dangerous stunts. Tenny explains that he did not want that in the lawsuit and will have his lawyer disclose it. The rest of the video revolved around Turner explaining his feelings on his contract ever since joining FaZe Clan. Turner urges FaZe to release his contract to the public so his fans can see the deal Turner was signed into. This started a trend #ReleaseTheContract. Unlike FaZe Banks’s response, Tfue kept his response short and simply asked for them to show his contract. FaZe Banks says he will release the contract as soon as he can.
Contract Leaked
On May 23, 2019, the contract has been leaked by 'The Blast News'. The contract states that Tfue only gets 80% of brand deals, 50% of merchandise, 50% brand deals, 50% appearance fees, and 20% Prize Pools, which sums up only having 50% of what he earns towards FaZe Clan. Keemstar of DramaAlert confirmed on Twitter that it was real.[4][5]
Conclusion
Since the release of FaZe Banks video on Turner, he lost over 30,000 subscribers on YouTube, with Banks gaining over 200,000 subscribers thanks to the video. But since Tfue's response, he was starting to gain fans again at a fast rate.
Hotel Destruction
On October 30, 2019, Ricky destructed a hotel room causing broken windows, TV, and a messy floor.[6] It was believed that a party went down, but out of control. Because of it taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada, damages like Ricky did are common, as long as it's paid, the vandalism felony charges are dropped. FaZe Clan and Ricky have paid for the damage.[7]
Trivia
- Banks is 6'6" (198 centimeters) tall.
- Banks has a bald spot in his head, which is why he wears a hat.
- Banks was a former member of SoaR before joining FaZe.
- Banks used to collab with a the clan OpTic.
- He was in a relationship with social media personality Alissa Violet.
- Although his real name is Richard Bengston, he often goes by the name Ricky Banks on social media.
Channel milestones
Note: The following dates are according to Social Blade. Dates may vary by one or two days due to differences in time zones.
Subscriber milestones
- 1 million subscribers: November 10, 2016
- 2 million subscribers: August 10, 2017
- 3 million subscribers: August 26, 2017
- 4 million subscribers: November 30, 2017
- 5 million subscribers: April 14, 2019
Video view milestones
- 100 million views: August 25, 2017
- 200 million views: October 30, 2017
- 300 million views: August 14, 2018
- 400 million views: May 13, 2020
References
- ↑ Barley House Restraining Order. Scribd.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv0VGzdqWOc
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Banks/status/1125110298208231424
- ↑ https://twitter.com/KEEMSTAR/status/1131573126863708161
- ↑ https://twitter.com/KEEMSTAR/status/1131581404679159808
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xm0TU_cJlA
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCeUCizlgBA&t=32s