The Chief Executive Officer of Evo, Joey Cuellar, has been dismissed from the fighting game tournament organizer due to multiple allegations of misconduct and abuse, and the event itself has been canceled too.
The accusations were from Twitter users Pyronlkari, who shared several stories of the CEO, referring him as Mr. Wizard. Pyronlkari accused Cuellar of paying underage boys to perform inappropriate acts for him, including stripping to the underwear and showing him their genitals.
After the allegations surfaced, Evo announced Cuellar was no longer part of the company. Its statement reads:
“Over the past 24 hours, in response to serious allegations recently made public on Twitter, we have made the first of a series of important decisions regarding the future of our company.”
“Effective immediately, Joey Cuellar will no longer be involved with Evo in any capacity. We are currently working towards his complete separation from the company and have relieved him of all his responsibilities.”
Along with this announcement, the Evo Online tournament, a replacement for the canceled Evo 2020, has been scrapped. The organizers will refund for those who already bought badges.
Originally, proceeds were intended to go to Project HOPE, an international health care organization. Instead, Evo will donate the same to the organization from its pocket.
In the meantime, Evo co-founder Tony Cannon will act as the CEO and will improve accountability in Evo, internal and at events. The company also said that it’s committed to making every change needed so that it can become a better model for a safer, stronger culture.
Cuellar has issued a statement on Twitter:
“I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt anyone. I was young and reckless and did things I'm not proud of. I have been growing and maturing over the past 20 years, but that doesn't excuse anything. All I have been trying to do is become a better person. Once again, I'm truly sorry.”
This is not the first or the only abuse case in the gaming industry. Since late June 2020, over 70 people in the gaming industry, mostly women, have come forward with accusations of sexual assault, abuse, and harassment.
It appears that this problem is present in every corner of the gaming industry, relating to former and current employees and contractors of several companies including Facebook, Twitch, Paradox Interactive, Ubisoft, Techland, Cards Against humanity, Bungie, and Gato Studio. Though these companies have responded to the accusations, there’s much more they have to do to address this serious sickness existing in the industry because no one should have to experience and tolerate such behaviors.
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