Riot Games is addressing serious accusations against inactive VALORANT professional player Ava “florescent” Eugene, who has been accused of sexual assault by a former Game Changers competitor. Florescent, who made history as the first woman to join a Tier 1 VALORANT league, signed with Apeks for the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) 2025 season in the EMEA region. Despite stepping away from the team citing personal reasons, she was highly regarded as one of the league’s top players.
However, on 17 May, allegations surfaced via social media by former Game Changers pro Marceline “karie” Carson on behalf of a mutual friend of florescent’s partner. The accusations detailed instances of sexual assault, with the victim, referred to as “Brick”, recounting events where she felt pressured into sexual encounters against her will by florescent.
Brick’s initial account outlined incidents of non-consensual sexual activity that allegedly occurred on 3 January 2024 at florescent’s residence. Despite Brick’s protests and discomfort, she claimed florescent persisted, leading to a situation where she felt powerless to leave. A subsequent statement by Brick described the relationship as “toxic and coercive,” citing instances of manipulation, boundary violations, and emotional distress caused by florescent.
Additional testimonies from two other ex-girlfriends of florescent echoed similar experiences of emotional manipulation and neglect, painting a troubling pattern of abusive behavior by the player. These accounts, coupled with screenshots and statements provided as evidence, have sparked calls for accountability and support for survivors within the community.
In response to the allegations, florescent denied the accusations in a statement released on social media, emphasizing their commitment to addressing the matter seriously and seeking legal guidance. The player expressed a desire to clear their name but refrained from sharing evidence publicly at that time, citing safety concerns and requesting privacy for all parties involved.
Riot Games, the developer of VALORANT, issued a statement acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations and pledging full cooperation with legal authorities. While not specifically naming florescent in their statement, Riot faced criticism from the VCT community for perceived inconsistencies in handling similar cases involving male players, leading to debates about transparency and accountability within the esports industry.
Despite florescent announcing a break from competitive play just prior to the emergence of the sexual assault allegations, the situation has cast a shadow over the player’s future eligibility and raised broader discussions about safeguarding the well-being of participants in professional gaming.
The unfolding controversy surrounding the accusations against florescent underscores the importance of addressing issues of misconduct and ensuring a safe and inclusive environment within competitive gaming, prompting industry stakeholders to reevaluate protocols for handling such sensitive matters moving forward.
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