Them's fighting words!!

As was reported last week, the Saudi Crown Prince announced that the Kingdom would be the host to the Esports World Cup, formerly known as Gamers8, and it will take place next summer in the city of Riyadh. I was very critical of the previous event earlier this year, and it’s with that context I would like to announce that I intend to participate in the Cup in some capacity next year. 

Saudi Arabia’s laws on women’s rights, LGBT rights, and free speech do not line up with my values, and likely a great deal of the FGC. While there has been major, major improvement in the country, such as women being able to register that they had children without their male guardian’s approval, there is still work to be done. I think it’s important to raise awareness, so people don’t make the kind of mistakes that I have to, and I hope other players and orgs are outspoken about their grief in having to attend this tournament.

So why attend? It’s a question I’ve had to grapple with myself a lot, but the truth is, it’s an opportunity. Being as transparent as possible, it’s an opportunity to earn life-changing money. And aside from that, it’s an opportunity to be a beacon of hope. Some people would just take the money and not say anything; but here I can be different. The truth is that it takes a lot of guts to make a stand, a stand that, while lucrative, also means that I can inform the world about what’s really going on; for example, the literacy rate in KSA is 99.35%, and education in schools and universities are free. And in a way, my success is greater for the community as a whole – without contributions from people like me, the community may cease to exist, and as a content creator this would be an abdication of my duty. If I simply attended and said nothing, my fans and fellow community members wouldn’t know that, secretly, I resist. 

Some may critique this line of thinking and say: why attend at all? And it is a fair point, albeit naive and somewhat missing the point. You see, if it wasn’t me, it would be somebody else; boycotts are terribly ineffective in general, and I think it’s important to use my voice to air my grievances with the event while also participating to ensure the event is a success. The event’s continued success is important because, in turn, it supports an ecosystem in which myself and about a dozen others can build a career out of an industry that is known for instability. Stability comes at a cost, and while it is not my choice, the knowledge that they will have to pay me while I say critiques behind their back is, in its own way, the most effective kind of protest.

It helps to understand, too, that this is simply the way things are going in the general esports world. Saudi Arabia, through its Vision 2030 plan, aims to be an entertainment hub for the globe, and while they can force us to attend, they can’t tell us what to think. That being said, I made some comments in those previous blogs and through social media that were uninformed and, worst of all, rude to the royals, some of the wealthiest in the world, who graciously host this event for our poor community. I have strenuously apologized to them and the hosts of the tournament for my prior behavior. That I would be invited to attend is a sign that truly it is possible for minds to change, on both sides, and a sign of the continued improvement brought on by Vision 2030. Korean and Japanese car manufacturing plants are being built, as the leadership of the country continues to deliver on all its promises and ensure a prosperous future for its young population. The city of the future, NEOM, will be built soon, and with it the dreams of millions of gamers across the world will be fulfilled. Yes, it is a shame that migrant work will be used to build the city and they are required to have permission of a sponsor to switch jobs due to poor working conditions and can’t leave the country. My heart also breaks for those locals executed for resisting forced eviction from their homes so NEOM could be built. But progress requires sacrifice, and some of the locals have been offered generous sums to leave, provided they condemn those who illegally protest forced evictions, as is only fair and expected. 

To my LGBT brothers and sisters: I hear you. I see you. You are valid. There is a lot of anger towards Saudi Arabian sponsorships, and I understand. To prove that I do, 15% of my total pay will go towards a charity to be determined. It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. My merch store will also take an additional 10% off of shipping with the promo code LUVISLUV. But, correcting some of my previous statements, the Saudi Tourism Authority website has communicated the Kingdom’s stance on LGBT tourists, which may surprise you:

It’s such a small ask, to respect culture, and I think a truly diverse sub-community would understand the value of differing perspectives and cultures. If we can’t get along because of a minor disagreement on jail time for LGBT human rights supporters and the criminalization of that lifestyle, then we will simply never move forward. Having said that, I once again condemn the platform of the Saudi Arabian government, who have kindly and graciously promised they are doing everything they can to fix that.

Speaking of countries, it’s important to note, too, that the United States government has a history of shady actions and human rights abuses itself. Not only that, it has committed some of the gravest international war crimes of any state in the history of the world. You may ask: are they sponsoring and running any tournaments as part of a vision of enticing a consumer base to come to the USA? The answer would be: no. But what if they did? And don’t we all pay taxes, which in turn go to said government? Makes you think. 

Despite my commitment to Good Work, I completely understand that for some, it will never be enough. I must say, however, that those who would call me a hypocrite for attending this event while also, say, boycotting the online Evo 2020 tournament because of the involvement of Joey “MrWizard” Cuellar, or condemning the WePlay Ultimate Fighting League for having a shady sponsor, are misguided. First of all, the Esports World Cup and Evo don’t compare – it may be crude, but a vacation and a good payday are miles above a free online tournament. Second of all, and more importantly: this line of thinking is problematic and disgusting. To ask me to compare situations in which there was harm done, and centering my perspective on the matter, is just wrong. It’s the people who are wronged that you should center in your discussions on these topics. Just don’t ask me, because I lack agency and thus my actions should be fairly judged in that context.

This is what people who rush to judgment miss the most: I am being coerced. Not physically, of course, or by the Saudis, who are the most gracious and kind hosts. My abuser is actually the true enemy in all this – free market capitalism. Were it simply abolished, these thorny ethical situations would dissolve, and I wouldn’t have to accept the invitation of (kind and gracious) theocratic autocrats. But to those who would judge me, I ask – what are you doing? Are you buying ethically? Refusing to use products made from slave labor of the type that Saudi Arabia (gracious and kind) would use? Didn’t think so. As a member of the working class, I have no choice but to pick the most lucrative side of every difficult ethical question. Criticizing that is unproductive – pick up a book and fight the real enemy. I have bills to pay.

Once again, I am so, so, so sorry that it has come to this. I just hope this sparks a conversation, one that is so important to have. If we all were to take a stand and ensure this endeavor succeeded while simultaneously praying for its downfall, there might be hope in the future. But the most important thing, of course, is to get that bag. Yes, it may appear that I have a price for what issues I’m willing to compromise my principles for, but isn’t what truly matters how bad I feel about it? Saudi Arabia may be the gorgeous desert vista that is the one true link between the West and the East, but they can’t buy my loyalty. Permanently, that is – only temporarily. And let it never be understated how much I love the FGC that I would suffer this kind of moral quandary. After all, it’s all for you – there’s about twenty invitations that could go out, and while there’s only a couple dozen who could get it, there are millions more who could watch it. That lottery is worth the sacrifice, and why I will, in protest, attend the Esports World Cup. Praise be to his Royal Highness, Mohammed bin Salman, who has so kindly and so graciously opened Riyadh, the world’s capital, to this gaming event. As a fellow Capcom vs. SNK 2 fan, it’s heartening that while we may disagree on many things, at heart, we’re both still gamers.

I will post again after I attend the International Esports Convention in Tel Aviv as a guest of the esteemed Likud party government. Much love ya’ll!