BLAST announces end of partnership with NEOM after criticism

Following extensive community pressure and internal dissent, BLAST’s parent company RFRSH Entertainment has officially severed ties with the controversial NEOM partnership.

Internal sources revealed the decision during a confidential organizational meeting, with details subsequently obtained by industry outlet HLTV. The announcement comes after sustained criticism from professional teams, casters, and community members across multiple platforms.

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

— Frankie (@FrankieWard) August 5, 2020

In a coordinated July announcement, both BLAST and Europe’s premier League of Legends circuit, the LEC, revealed sponsorship agreements with NEOM. This ambitious Saudi development project aims to create a futuristic urban center and tourism destination along the Red Sea coast.

However, NEOM’s construction has drawn international condemnation for its treatment of migrant laborers through exploitative working conditions and violent displacement of indigenous communities from the construction zone.

Important Context: Saudi Arabia represents just one of several nations with documented human rights violations that BLAST has engaged in business relationships with.

LEC, BLAST partnerships with NEOM have been highly controversial

The LEC agreement triggered immediate condemnation throughout the competitive League ecosystem, primarily focusing on Saudi Arabia’s systemic human rights violations. Community members highlighted the stark contradiction between the LEC promoting LGBTQ+ awareness through rainbow branding while partnering with a nation where same-sex relationships carry severe legal penalties, as documented by Human Rights Watch and other advocacy organizations.

Professional commentators and esports organizations associated with the LEC voiced strong opposition, creating such overwhelming pressure that Riot Games dissolved the arrangement within a single day.

For the avoidance of doubt, neither G2 nor myself will be taking money “earned” from genocide and ethnic cleansing. Ever.

G2 and myself stand against violations of basic human rights and any leadership that promotes such.

Please have patience and stop implying things ffs.

— ocelote CarlosR (@CarlosR) July 29, 2020

While BLAST encountered comparatively less public outcry than the LEC, the organization still faced consistent criticism from influential figures within the competitive gaming space, including prominent content creators and broadcast talent. Notable overlap occurred between LEC and BLAST-associated organizations, exemplified by G2 Esports’ vocal opposition to both partnerships.

The contrasting response timelines between the two organizations proved particularly notable. While the LEC addressed community concerns almost immediately, BLAST maintained complete radio silence from the initial NEOM announcement through the recent termination decision, without any formal public statement.

Ending this sponsorship arrangement undoubtedly creates substantial financial strain for BLAST’s operations. Saudi Arabia’s substantial investment in international sports partnerships forms part of a broader strategy to reshape global perceptions, leaving RFRSH urgently seeking alternative funding sources for its Counter-Strike: Global Offensive competitive circuit.

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