A former VALORANT pro dropped transphobic slurs on a Game Changers co-stream, and Riot just handed him a VCT broadcasting ban through mid-August. NAVI ditched him within hours. Ardis Svarenieks, known as ardiis, targeted players with discriminatory language during a broadcast of the women-and-gender-diverse circuit, and Riot's EMEA account confirmed the Terms of Service violation.
The org said some lines should never get crossed and cut ties immediately, though nobody knows if that split is temporary or permanent. Ardiis took to X with an apology, calling his remarks toward transgender people unacceptable and promising it wouldn't happen again. Riot also flagged that any future violations could strip his broadcasting privileges for good.
Co-stream bans of this caliber are rare, but Riot has swung before. Doublelift caught a one-week ban in 2022 for trashing LCS viewership, and IWDominate lost League Partner Program access for about a year over social media conduct. What sets ardiis apart is the Game Changers connection, and it cost him a paid org deal.
The org said some lines should never get crossed and cut ties immediately, though nobody knows if that split is temporary or permanent. Ardiis took to X with an apology, calling his remarks toward transgender people unacceptable and promising it wouldn't happen again. Riot also flagged that any future violations could strip his broadcasting privileges for good.
Co-stream bans of this caliber are rare, but Riot has swung before. Doublelift caught a one-week ban in 2022 for trashing LCS viewership, and IWDominate lost League Partner Program access for about a year over social media conduct. What sets ardiis apart is the Game Changers connection, and it cost him a paid org deal.
