EVO Online has been cancelled due to serious allegations levelled against event organiser, Joey Cuellar.
The company has shared a statement regarding the allegations on Twitter where it mentioned refunding badges and donating any funds raised to Project Hope.
Multiple studios also pulled out of the event, including Bandai Namco (Tekken), NetherRealm (Mortal Kombat), Capcom (Street Fighter V) and more.
You can read the full statement below.
The statement explains that Cuellar is no longer associated with the event and that Tony Cannon will be stepping in as the new CEO.
Also known as Mr Wizard, Cuellar has been publicly attacked on Twitter by user Pyronlkari, who has detailed multiple acts of predatory behaviour from Cuellar in the mid-90s aimed at underage boys.
Cuellar issued his own statement on Twitter, seemingly acknowledging the accusations during his apology on Thursday evening.
“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,” the statement reads.
EVO Online is one of the biggest and longest-running competitive events for fighting games.
Players are invited to take part in competitive matches in games like Mortal Kombat, Soulcalibur, Tekken and so on.
