LEC ends NEOM partnership within 15 Hours

In less than 15 hours, the LEC both announced and cancelled their partnership with Saudi Arabia’s NEOM company.

“As a company and as a league, we know that it’s important to recognize when we make mistakes and quickly work to correct them,” stated Alberto Guerrero, Director of Esports, EMEA. “After further reflection, while we remain steadfastly committed to all of our players and fans worldwide including those living in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, the LEC has ended its partnership with NEOM, effective immediately.”

An important update on #LEC NEOM partnership:https://t.co/aoH7QpziIT

— LEC (@LEC) July 30, 2020

LEC x NEOM Partnership

Mere moments after the partnership’s announcement, the League of Legends community was quick to express disapproval. Members of the LEC cast stood in solidarity on social media. Carlos “ocelote” Rodriguez, CEO of G2 Esports, implied the LEC cast and community had a direct effect on the separation behind the scenes. “…I urge everybody to understand how hard is to do this, let alone do it within 24h,” said Carlos on Twitter, “It is an honor to be on this league.”

But their solidarity was not without risk. LEC Caster Indiana “Froskurinn” Black expressed her frustration. “Some things I can change. Some things I cannot… I shouldn’t have to clarify this after the anxiety of playing chicken with my career as collateral,” said Froskurinn.

Before the separation, cast members like Froskurinn were on the receiving end of criticism from all angles. Some urged the LEC cast to revolt, while others accused them of hypocrisy due to the LEC’s association with Tencent, and even further, the Uighur re-education camps.

NEOM Controversy

The source of this controversy was NEOM. Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman founded this company to create a futuristic city larger than Belgium. According to a report by Wall Street Journal, the city plans to have features like flying taxis, robot butlers, and an artificial moon. What people are angry with, however, is not the promises of a neo-utopia. Saudi Arabia is famous for its violations of human rights.

This is disappointing because this is the LEC. It's my team, my product, my managers, my office.

My family. My home.

This isn't someone far away in HQ that I don't know. This is devastating because I know who made these choices and I feel silenced.

— Froskurinn (@Froskurinn) July 29, 2020

Saudi Arabia is known to be legally against LGBT+ rights. Violators of these laws can result in consequences up to capital punishment. Froskurinn, an openly gay woman, was one of the cast members who led discussions against the NEOM partnership. Less famously, a report by The Guardian says that building the city will evict 20 thousand tribe members known as the Huwaitat. Many League of Legends fans feel that the acceptance of a NEOM partnership is an acceptance of these crimes, and the many crimes going unmentioned.

Other esports like CS:GO went on to create relationships with Saudi Arabia despite the controversy. It is likely that without the flood of outrage from the LEC community, LEC would continue its connection with NEOM.

Written by Devon Huge