Article
CS:GO talent refuse to work with BLAST over new partnership with NEOM
Several CS:GO talent have announced they will cease working with BLAST after the tournament organizer announced a new partnership with the Saudi Arabian development NEOM...
commentators cited the Saudi government’s poor human rights record, abuse of indigenous communities around NEOM, and inhumane treatment of LGBTQ+ folks as the reason for the decision...
[Gamer Harry Russell tweeted] “Blast x NEOM is a disgrace to the BLAST brand, an organization I know is filled with wonderful, talented and loving individuals. The idea that this could be ‘silenced’ through ignoring it is not a standard of precedent that should be set.”
[Another gamer, Hugo Byron replied] that BLAST’s partnership with NEOM makes them hypocritical of their claimed stances.