Blast CSGO casters strike over \u201cdisgraceful\u201d partnership with NEOM Adela Sznajder for DreamHack \/ BlastBlast has come under fire for signing a partnership with Saudi-backed \u201cfuture city\u201d NEOM, with numerous popular CS:GO casters including Harry \u2018JustHarry\u2019 Russell, Hugo Byron, and Frankie Ward refusing to work with Blast unless they rescind the deal. Blast\u2019s partnership with NEOM was described as a \u201crecord deal\u201d by CEO Robbie Douek. It included helping the Saudi future-city build an esports academy, and even creating a CS:GO map based on the development. \u201cThis is a record deal for BLAST and testament to our recent growth and standing in the industry right now. We have a strong track record when it comes to producing global events that encompass a leading broadcast product and inspire lovers of esports,\u201d Douek said in a July 28 statement. Today we announce a global partnership with @NEOM, an ambitious project that includes building a major esports ecosystem in the heart of what will be the new future of living! We talk about the future of esports, so let’s get to it. #BLASTPremier #DiscoverNEOM pic.twitter.com\/rjJdMxer9w \u2014 BLAST Premier \ud83d\udca5 (@BLASTPremier) July 28, 2020 However, since penning the deal nearly two weeks ago, the CS:GO community has been in uproar. With their criticisms falling on deaf ears, casters are taking it a step further \u2014 by refusing to appear on Blast broadcasts until the deal is rescinded. JustHarry, Hugo, Frankie, and Vince Hill are just some of the names who have spoken out against Blast and NEOM. All of them have stated they will not help Blast in any capacity. \u201cThe BLAST x NEOM deal is an opportunity to educate ourselves so that we no longer work with people who would kill our friends,\u201d Frankie said on Twitter. She included a link to a \u201cmap of countries that criminalise LGBT people.\u201d \u201cBlast x NEOM is a disgrace to the Blast brand, an organisation I know is filled with wonderful, talented & loving individuals. The idea that this could be \u201csilenced\u201d through ignoring it is not a standard or precedent that should be set either,\u201d Russell added. \u201cI join my friends and colleagues in saying that I won\u2019t be working with BLAST while this partnership stands. This isn\u2019t an issue that will simply be forgotten about.\u201d The BLAST x NEOM deal is an opportunity to educate ourselves so that we no longer work with people who would kill our friends.https:\/\/t.co\/OY5lnFtcVK \u2014 Frankie Ward (@FrankieWard) August 5, 2020 If you don\u2019t support human rights then I can\u2019t support you. BLAST partnering with NEOM does not align with what they claim to stand for. I stand by Harry, my colleagues and every person who has been persecuted by archaic Governments for being themselves. https:\/\/t.co\/D50AosBYVz \u2014 Hugo (@HugoTV) August 5, 2020 https:\/\/twitter.com\/OnFireVince\/status\/1291047913385320450 JustHarry and Hugo casted for Blast during the Pro Series in Moscow last year, while Frankie has frequently appeared as a host and interviewer during the tournament organizer\u2019s events. Vince last appeared on a Blast broadcast in 2017. The NEOM mega-city development is publicly backed by Saudi Arabia, with the Kingdom providing more than $500 billion in funding for the \u201cfuture-proof\u201d city. The project aims to attract a million new residents. NEOM also penned a deal with European League of Legends tournament LEC to feature as a sponsor on the Riot broadcast. However, before the ink even dried on the deal, the community revolted, forcing Riot to overturn the partnership less than 24 hours later. The LEC talent, including Indiana \u2018Froskurinn\u2019 Black and Trevor \u2018Quickshot\u2019 Henry, also refused to show on the broadcast unless Riot canceled the NEOM partnership. Blast are yet to comment on the situation. We will update you as more information arises.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Blast CSGO casters strike over \u201cdisgraceful\u201d partnership with NEOM Adela Sznajder for DreamHack \/ BlastBlast has come under fire for signing a partnership with Saudi-backed \u201cfuture city\u201d NEOM, with numerous popular CS:GO casters including Harry \u2018JustHarry\u2019 Russell, Hugo Byron, and Frankie Ward refusing to work with Blast unless they rescind the deal. Blast\u2019s partnership with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dejan.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37389","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dejan.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dejan.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dejan.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dejan.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37389"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dejan.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37389\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dejan.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dejan.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dejan.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}