Evo announced via Twitter that its e-sports game tournament had been canceled while EVO co-founder and CEO was removed from the company amid serious allegations about his behavior. The long-running e-sports event has previously switched to an online format on Saturday, July 4, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The company said that Joey Cuellar "will no longer be involved with Evo in any capacity," while another EVO co-founder Tony Cannon will take the CEO role moving forward. In a tweet, Cuellar said he apologized that he was "not proud" of his past actions.
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. — Joey Cuellar (@MrWiz) July 3, 2020
In a statement to IGN issued on Thursday, July 2, Evo declared the Cuellar's dismissal and cancellation of Evo Online.
"We are shocked and saddened by these events, but we are listening and committed to making every change that will be necessary in making Evo a better model for the stronger, safer culture we all seek," said Evo. As promised, the company will still donate the equivalent of the proceeds to Project HOPE.
Last month, some Super Smash Bros. e-sports players and members exposed the alleged abuses that happen within the community. Netizens claimed some famous personalities as alleged abusers with some victims were still minors at the time of the abuse.
Cueller who is also called Mr. Wizard was one of the many personalities linked in the scandal. He allegedly paid local underage members of an arcade with tokens to jump into a pool in their underwear only.
These allegations implicate widespread sexual misconduct within the fighting game community, similar to last year's Evo 2019 scandal.
Evo said in a statement that such alleged behaviors are directly against "Evo's mission of building a safe, welcoming environment for all of our players and attendees," which the company takes seriously. "Accordingly, Joey has been placed on administrative leave pending a third-party investigation," Evo added.
Various companies pulled out of the event
The event cancellation was declared within 24 hours after fighting game player Mikey "Crackpr0n" Pham accused Cuellar of behaving inappropriately towards him and other teenage boys in the 90s and early 2000s.
PCGamer also reported that multiple companies like NetherRealm, Bandai Namco, and Capcom, as well as players and commentators canceled their event sponsorship after the allegations came out.
Nintendo said in a statement they are "deeply disturbed" by these allegations against members of the fighting game as well as in the Super Smash Bros. community.
"They are absolutely impermissible. We want to make it clear that we condemn all acts of violence, harassment, and exploitation against anyone and that we stand with the victims," Nintendo wrote.
Bandai Namco's leaving would mean Tekken 7, Dragon Ball FighterZ, and SoulCalibur 6 will no longer be at the event as well as Them's Fightin' Herds following Mane6's departure.
pic.twitter.com/1QNQkvykEv — BANDAI NAMCO ESPORTS (@BNEesports) July 3, 2020
Similarly, NetherRealms announced on Twitter that it would pull Mortal Kombat 11 as it expressed "solidarity with those who have spoken out against abuse," while Capcom cited the "recent allegations of misconduct made against Joey Cueller" as a reason for pulling out from Evo Online.
pic.twitter.com/eUl8rF9TkC — EVO (@EVO) July 3, 2020
