Evo Online 2020 is officially canceled. The biggest gaming tournament of the year is not going to take place this year after yesterday’s shocking news of sexual abuse against minors surfaced.
— EVO (@EVO) July 3, 2020
The fighting game community is in utter shock after multiple serious allegations of sexual harassment and attacks started to become public yesterday. Among those is the case of Joey ‘MrWizard’ Cuellar. A very prominent figure in the FGC who co-founded and was EVO president until yesterday.
The annual fighting tournament EVO barely escaped total cancellation this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and only circumvented that by aiming for an online event with Evo Online 2020. Now, it’s official that there won’t be any kind of tournament, local or online, happening this year.
Seeing the serious allegations against Joey Cuellar it’s quite understandable. According to professional fighting game player CrackPr0n, Cuellar coerced him and many other minor boys into sexual activities like undressing and even showing genitalia. A damning accusation which Joe Cuellar didn’t even refute. Quite the opposite. In a Tweet, Cuellar wrote this.
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 ‘MrWizard’ Cuellar
It’s not like the EVO management had much choice either than to cancel EVO Online this year, as well. After the news broke about yesterday, pretty much all major game companies announced their withdrawal from the event one after the other.
— Capcom Fighters (@CapcomFighters) July 2, 2020
We stand in solidarity with those who have spoken out against abuse. We will be pulling MK11 from EVO Online.
— NetherRealm (@NetherRealm) July 2, 2020
— BANDAI NAMCO ESPORTS (@BNEesports) July 3, 2020
