The VALORANT group is outraged after it was introduced that Ava “florescent” Eugene is eligible to compete in Riot-sanctioned occasions.
Esports followers haven’t been proud of the dealing with of florescent’s case from the start. Again in Might 2025, Riot said that “a competitor” had been accused of sexual assault and it was doing its personal investigation on the “most critical” matter. However florescent’s title was by no means talked about.
“I’m conscious of the allegations that have been made in opposition to me and take them very significantly. Nonetheless, I strongly deny any and all accusations of SA,” florescent tweeted, including that she was in search of authorized council on the matter.
Extra accusations in opposition to flor got here rolling in. In the meantime, VALORANT followers questioned why Riot was prepared to “assess” the scenario whereas Jay “Sinatraa” Gained, widespread Overwatch League turned VALORANT professional, was “instantly banned” when he was accused of sexually abusing his ex-girlfriend.
Now, Riot is underneath hearth as soon as extra after stating that “no aggressive penalties” have been issued in opposition to Florescent, permitting her to compete in Riot’s occasions once more.
Riot said: “This was a private matter and no enough proof was discovered to find out {that a} violation of the World Code of Conduct occurred.”
VALORANT Followers Not Conscious That Sinatraa Was By no means Banned
It’s no shocker that the esports group is stuffed with a variety of transphobic people. With the accusations in opposition to flor mainly confirming their warped view of trans ladies, these avid gamers have been fast to sentence her the second the tales got here out. They have been additionally instantly able to name out Riot for not handing out a swifter, harsher punishment.
florescent’s scenario has been repeatedly in comparison with Sinatraa, since each have been accused of undesirable sexual habits. However widespread sense would say that two incidents should not sufficient to show that Riot handled anybody particular or in another way. Two incidents should not sufficient to instantly bounce to the conclusion that Riot went simple on flor as a result of she is trans. We’d need to see a number of different gamers immediately banned for a sample to type (after which break).
And the factor is, lots of people are remembering Sinatraa’s scenario a bit in another way than actuality. He was not immediately and completely banned. He was really by no means even banned in any respect. He was suspended for six months, beginning resulting from his habits throughout the investigation.
Throughout the investigation, Riot claimed Gained “misrepresented sure information, made false statements, and didn’t cooperate with the investigation in a method anticipated of knowledgeable VALORANT esports participant.”
Nonetheless, he’s technically in a position to compete proper now. And for the previous a number of years. Followers are calling it extra of a “shadow ban,” since he mainly isn’t being signed by any VALORANT group as a result of dangerous press that group would obtain following the accusations in opposition to Sinatraa (together with video proof) and the best way he behaved throughout the investigation. It’s additionally being claimed that Sinatraa has chosen to not compete himself.
And I guess flor can be shadow banned too. Seeing as she was accused of sexual assault by ladies who’re additionally on Recreation Changers groups, it could be fairly surprising if any group wished to take her again after this example.
The variety of esports followers who’ve been so fast to assert that florescent is getting particular remedy of some variety resulting from her id are clearly not all in favour of information and are as an alternative simply blindly hating on trans ladies. I’ve not seen a single reply really involved for the victims. It’s both random “what about Sinatraa” spam or hateful feedback about trans ladies.
I’m not saying florescent is harmless. I’ve no clue what occurred throughout the investigation. However it’s clear none of you do both. You simply wish to hate on trans ladies. In reality, it appears like all of you need Sinatraa to play it doesn’t matter what his sufferer claimed, when you instantly consider Flor’s victims. If something, I really feel you guys are inconsistent, not Riot.
