Valve has fired host James Harding and the production company working on Dota 2’s Shanghai Major, with Gabe Newell publicly calling the commentator “an ass.”
“We’ve had issues with James at previous events,” Newell wrote on Reddit. “Some Valve people lobbied to bring him back for Shanghai, feeling that he deserved another chance. That was a mistake. James is an ass, and we won’t be working with him again.”
Harding, also known as 2GD, responded in the Reddit thread with the following:
“This is why my statement is taking sometime. It seems more personal than professional. So I will respond. Just for the record gabe, I don’t think you are an ass. But I don’t think you are right about me (well maybe you are a bit of an ass for calling me an ass, but let’s find out what others think shall we?). Brb”
Newell also commented on the production company, saying, “As long as we’re firing people, we are also firing the production company that we’ve been working with on the Shanghai Major. They will be replaced, and we hope to get this turned around before the main event.”
The tournament’s group stage began yesterday, plagued with connection and disruption issues, as well as scrutiny for some of James’ comments on the lack of pornography channels in his hotel room.
The tournament is set to continue through the weekend, nonetheless.
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