Riot Games has officially announced the suspension of streamer Ardis "ardiis" Svarenieks from co-streaming VCT series competitions. The punishment comes as a result of using discriminatory and offensive language during the VCT 2026: Game Changers EMEA Stage 3 broadcast. Following this decision, the esports organization Natus Vincere (NAVI) also suspended its cooperation with the streamer.
During the co-stream of the match between GIANTX GC and Barca eSports GC, ardiis, along with former Fnatic player Leo "Leo" Jannesson, made comments that the Valorant community condemned as transphobic. Specifically, the term "bumblebees" was used in reference to players, carrying a semantic link to the word "transformers."
The situation sparked a wave of outrage on social media aimed not only at the streamers, but also at Riot Games and NAVI. An additional cause for criticism was ardiis's behavior while writing his "apology": the streamer wrote the text live on stream while making jokes and stating that "this whole apology is just a formality."
Riot Games' ruling revokes the streamer's right to co-stream any VCT competitions, effective immediately through August 19, 2026. The publisher emphasized that it does not tolerate any form of discrimination on any grounds, warning that repeated violations could result in a permanent ban from co-streaming rights.
NAVI's Position: Natus Vincere, where ardiis served as a content creator, expressed full support for Riot Games' decision. The club stated that discrimination crosses an unacceptable line and immediately suspended its cooperation with the streamer. It remains unknown whether the partnership will resume after the ban expires.
The decision to issue a one-month ban faced harsh backlash from fans, who called the punishment overly lenient and likened it to an "unplanned vacation." Viewers pointed out that the suspension ends just one day before the start of the VCT EMEA Stage 2 Playoffs on August 20, viewing the timing as a cynical calculation by the organizers.
As a reminder:NAVI Qualify for Esports World Cup 2026 in CrossFire Following Success in Brazil.
