EVO Online cancelled as event organisers remove Joey “Mr. Wizard” Cuellar from the company
This year's EVO events have been cancelled outright.
EVO organisers have announced the cancellation of EVO Online, a digital event originally planned to replace this year's physical EVO fighting game tournament.
The company has also fired Joey “Mr. Wizard” Cuellar following an investigation into allegations of paedophilia and sexual misconduct members of the fighting game community levied against Cuellar.
When the allegations were made public, publishers and developers whose games were part of the event's line-up all pulled out, issuing statements in support of the victims. The list includes NetherRealm, Capcom, ,Bandai Namco, and Them's Fightin' Herds' Mane6. A number of prominent competitors and commentators also said they weren't comfortable participating, chief among them SonicFox.
"Effective immediately, Joey Cuellar will no longer be involved with EVO in any capacity," EVO's statement reads. "We are currently working towards his complete separation from the company and have relieved him of all his responsibilities."
"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. As a result, we will be cancelling EVO Online and will work to issue refunds for all players who chose to purchase a badge. We will donate the equivalent of the proceeds as promised to Project HOPE," it goes on.