E-sports Organizers Ban Leah Gllty Hayes Following Sexual

September 21, 2024

E-sports Arena is a curated weekly roundup of the biggest stories in the world of online competitive gaming.

Two members of the fighting game community have been banned from major events over the past week following allegations of sexual misconduct.

Photographer Chris Bahn was accused Aug. 8 via a post on The On Blast Show‘s Facebook page, of “inappropriate sexual touching by multiple women.” In the wake of the allegations, many tournament organizers, including CEO Gaming in Florida, Combo Breaker and NorthEast Championships organizer Big E Gaming, announced that Bahn would “no longer be welcome” at their events.

The second incident involved Street Fighter V competitor Leah “Gllty” Hayes, who was accused by fellow player Dawn “Yohosie” Hosie via Twitter of “inappropriately and publically (sic)” touching her at an event in 2015. Many other players came forward with similar claims, prompting Hayes to respond, saying she “contributed to the toxic environment in my own ways.”

Combo Breaker, CEO Gaming and Big E Gaming also tweeted statements banning Hayes from future events.

Elsewhere in the e-sports world, former NBA star Kevin Garnett’s company Big Ticket Sports LLC invested in Triumph Esports, marking the basketball star’s first e-sports investment. Triumph Esports currently fields rosters in Overwatch and Apex Legends, among others, and also includes the e-sports production company Rivercade. Garnett commented on the investment, calling the new relationship “a natural fit.”

Here’s what else is happening around e-sports.

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