G2 esports CEO quits for good after Andrew Tate controversy

MADRID, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 03: G2 Esports owner Carlos 'Ocelote' Rodriguez during press conference after Semi Finals World Championship match between SK Telecom T1 and G2 Esports on November 03, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Borja B. Hojas/Getty Images) — (Image credit: Photo by Borja B. Hojas/Getty Images)

G2 esports CEO Carlos Rodriguez has stepped down from his position a week after sharing a video of himself partying with men's rights influencer and alleged human trafficker, Andrew Tate. Rodriguez shared a three minute video explaining the decision to Twitter, and the official G2 account released a statement on the matter shortly thereafter.

"I take full responsibility over everything that went on in the last few days," Rodriguez stated in his video announcement, later thanking fans and collaborators, and concluding, "Remember, we're samurai, we thrive not because we win, but because we always get back up."

"We want to underline that we do not support any form of misogyny," G2's statement on Rodriguez stepping down reads. "We continue to prioritize fostering inclusivity and supporting a diverse gaming community."

Last week, Rodriguez apologized and took two months of unpaid leave following the outcry over his association with Tate. Tate, a former kickboxer, gained notoriety in recent months as a "manosphere" internet personality, before subsequently getting banned off most major social media platforms. According to the Romanian newspaper, Gândul, Tate and his brother's home in the country was raided by police in April in connection to a rape and human trafficking investigation.

G2 is a major esports organization, with professional teams competing in games like Valorant, League of Legends, and Counter-Strike. The video at the heart of the controversy was of Rodriguez's celebration of G2 qualifying for worlds in League of Legends. According to Dexerto, G2 was denied a coveted franchise spot in the coming Valorant league this past week, but there has been no direct confirmation from Riot that this was in response to Rodriguez's actions.

Ted has been thinking about PC games and bothering anyone who would listen with his thoughts on them ever since he booted up his sister's copy of Neverwinter Nights on the family computer. He is obsessed with all things CRPG and CRPG-adjacent, but has also covered esports, modding, and rare game collecting. When he's not playing or writing about games, you can find Ted lifting weights on his back porch. You can follow Ted on Bluesky.