Vortex Gaming

Ava 'florescent' Eugene, who garnered attention as the first female pro player in the European Valorant top league (VCT EMEA), is under fire after being accused of sexual assault. Furthermore, Riot Games' passive response despite the victim's specific revelations is drawing strong criticism from overseas Valorant fans.

Recently, the Valorant esports scene has been swept up in shocking news. Pro player Ava 'florescent' Eugene of APEKS, a team in the European Valorant top league (VCT EMEA), has been accused of sexual assault. 'florescent' previously showcased outstanding skills in the Game Changers League (an esports league for female and LGBTQ players) and joined the 2025 season EMEA League, drawing much attention as the first female pro player in the Valorant top league.

The allegations were first made public on May 17th by Marceline 'karie' Karlson, a former Game Changers League pro player who identified herself as a friend of 'florescent's' former partner, via X (formerly Twitter). Karlson, representing an anonymous woman named 'Brick,' claimed that 'florescent' forced unwanted sexual acts on 'Brick,' causing physical harm in the process. According to the published claims, 'florescent' allegedly forced sexual acts despite clear refusal, and then pressured the victim into having sex again, which is shocking. The victim's side presented evidence such as text message captures, exposing 'florescent's' coercive behavior.

In response, 'florescent' strongly denied the sexual assault allegations on May 18th via her X account, hinting at legal action. She stated that she is currently taking this issue seriously and is receiving legal support to restore her reputation.

As the incident spread rapidly, the league operator, Riot Games, issued an official statement on May 19th. Riot Games stated that they are aware of the allegations and will cooperate with law enforcement investigations and review the player's future league participation eligibility based on the results. However, Riot Games did not mention 'florescent's' real name in the statement and did not specify any concrete measures such as its own investigation plan or temporary suspension, drawing strong criticism from fans.

In particular, there are suspicions that Riot Games is taking a passive stance because 'florescent' is the first female pro player to join the top Valorant league, VCT EMEA. In the case of male pro player 'sinatraa,' who was accused of similar sexual offenses in the past, swift action was taken, including suspension from the league as soon as the allegations were raised.

Overseas esports officials and fans are expressing strong dissatisfaction with Riot Games' opaque and passive response. They are raising suspicions that Riot Games is not properly recognizing the seriousness of the incident or is being cautious because of 'florescent's' special status, and are calling for clear and proactive measures.

This incident raises important questions about the ethical responsibilities of esports league operators and the standards for handling incidents, beyond the simple issue of an individual player. Attention is focused on how Riot Games will respond to fan criticism and what measures it will take in the future.

웹진 인벤김병호 기자
2025-05-20