Alienware terminate its partnership with Riot Games, according to a Dot Esports report. A source told the media that the deal will be closed a year earlier due to “concern for the public image of the game developer amid complaints of harassment and other controversies”.
Although Riot has not confirmed that the deal would be terminating, in a statement to Dot Esports the company said it removed the Alienware brand from its broadcasts.
Alienware was part of Riot Games’ global sponsorship portfolio for League of Legends, with activations in all four major leagues, as well as global events, including the World Championship.
Recently, Riot Games CEO Nicolo Laurent was accused of sexual harassment and gender discrimination by his former executive assistant Sharon O’Donnel, who filed a civil suit against the executive. This process occurred after a previous controversy regarding the company’s culture and the treatment of women after a 2018 investigation by Kotaku.
Alienware is also a sponsor of Team Liquid, which competes in the LCS. The company currently has naming rights agreements in place for TL’s training facilities in Los Angeles and Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Esports Observer contacted Riot Games and Alienware for comment.