League of Legends Pro Gaming CEO Defends Party With Andrew Tate

G2 Esports CEO and Co-Founder Carlos “ocelote” Rodriguez was recently caught partying with notorious internet misogynist and general shit, Andrew Tate. The news caused a huge backlash on social media, and naturally the former League of Legends pro decided to tweet through her. “No one can ever control my friendships,” he said. wrote. “I party with whoever the fuck I want.” Less than 24 hours later, Rodriguez announced he was going on unpaid leave for two months.

How exactly did people find out that Rodriguez popped champagne with Tate, a subject of an ongoing human trafficking investigation by Romanian authorities that was also recently removed from Facebook, TikTok, Twitch and YouTube for hate speech? Well, because Rodriguez posted a video of himself and a slew of others, including Tate and his brother, Tristan Tate, passing around champagne and sparklers after G2’s recent second-place finish at the League of Legends European Summer Championship.

Rodriguez was immediately called out by various corners of the internet for fooling around with an asshole, while parts of the esports world came to his defense.

Instead of backing down, the CEO addressed the situation later that day in a tweet that implied he and Andrew Tate were friends. “No one will ever be able to control my friendships, I draw my line here,” it read. “I party with whoever the fuck I want.”

The next morning, he undid that line, apologizing to G2 Esports fans and supporters for “not reading the piece.”

“Many G2 fans were disappointed this weekend, which caused confusion about what I stand for,” the organization’s official said. wrote. He continued:

My constant goal has always been to champion absolute equality of opportunity no matter who you are or where you come from, which is what the game is all about. Don’t get me wrong, my life has been full of learnings and I’ve had my fair share of situations I’ve found myself in in the past. I didn’t read this room well, I feel bad about the threads it created and I will stand up and accept the consequences in full.

G2 Esports issue its own separate statement announcing that its supervisory board and Rodriguez had agreed that the CEO should take an eight-week unpaid leave. “Last night we let you down,” the organization wrote, saying Rodriguez’s actions stand in stark contrast to the hard work he has done to make esports a safe and inclusive space.

Notably, however, neither Rodriguez nor G2 have spoken out against Tate even as the organization just announced her first 100% feminine League of Legends crew. There “King of Toxic Masculinity“, Tate has regularly gloated about abusing women and treating them like property, and encouraged his male fans to do the same. Esports has a long and checkered history with racism, sexism and all manner of abuse. despicable attitudes and behaviors, and this incident is the most publicized example in some time of why space is still so unwelcoming to so many people.

Despite removing G2 Esports from his Twitter bio, replacing his handle with a “relieved” emoji, and turning his avatar into a reborn baby phoenix, Rodriguez still doesn’t seem to have a problem with any of it. Or maybe he’s just afraid of appearing to completely capitulate to those G2 supporters who also don’t have a problem with misogyny. i wonder what League of Legends new president, Lil Nas Xthink.

Rodriguez and G2 Esports did not immediately respond to a request for comment.