On June 21st, multiple prominent female Dota 2 personalities made several allegations about instances of sexual harassment that they have encountered in the esports community. Popular Dota 2 casters, Andrew "Zyori" Campbell and Grant "GranDGranT" Harris were called out during the discussion about this matter.
Twitch streamer and founder of Stream Coach Ashnichrist, in a Twittlonger post, alleged that Dota 2 caster Zyori had harassed her in the aftermath of The Summit 2. After these allegations were made public, Zyori responded to these comments on his Twitch stream.
According to Ashnichrist, Zyori invited her to the Summit 2 after party. They slept together in the same bed since they were both intoxicated. While nothing happened between the two, Zyori asked if he could lie to the community and state that something did. Ashnichrist says she agreed because she felt like she owed Zyori something for hiring her for this event.
According to Zyori, during The Summit 2 after party, after hitting it off and confirming that she was indeed interested in him through a mutual friend, they slept on the same bed. He too confirmed that since they were tired from the event, nothing happened. He acknowledged asking her if he could lie to his roommates (he clarified that it wasn’t the community) and say that they something did indeed happen that night in order to look cool in front of them. She agreed to this proposition.
Ashnichrist said that she was invited to Christmas at the BTS house, following this incident. She said she knew he was going to try (to sleep with her) but she went through with it. She got her period on her first day and stated that she could only hang out with him. However, she claims that he pressured her into having sex for the entire week even though she thought it was wrong.
Zyori, on the other hand, corroborated that he invited her over to the BTS house for Christmas and that she agreed. He acknowledged that Ashnichrist said that she was on her period, so she says they can still hang out, but nothing more. He stated that he said the period wasn’t a big deal for him.
“The whole period thing in this (Ashnichrist’s Twittlonger) is construed. Me saying that it is not a big deal is not ‘a pressure you into sex’ thing. It was a ‘you don’t need to feel weird about it’.”
He confirmed that they did sleep with each other during this period but that he thought that it was mutually consensual up until now.
On her flight back home, Ashnichrist was allegedly sent a picture of a bloody bed sheet. She did not speak out about this before because she thought that he would use the picture if she ever said anything.
Zyori said that he remembered sending the pictures, but he doesn't remember the context. He says that he probably sent it because he thought it was funny and that he never meant for it to appear as a threat.
Ashnichrist made some strong statements in her Twitlonger post, stating:
Looking back, I wish I knew so many things. I wish I knew if it felt off, it probably was. I wish I knew if it wasn't a "Hell yes" it was a "Hell no". I wish I knew rape could be subtle.
She also added that she doesn’t want to hear a response from Zyori. According to Ashnichrist, she was also harassed by other members in the esports community, but that she couldn’t reveal their names since they had “a level of influence over her current career” and hence she is still scared.
In Zyori’s livestream, he stated that he felt used as a result of this and that he did not know that Ashnichrist harboured such feelings.
It would have been great if we could have had any conversation, any dialogue or anything about this. Even if it was, right after she went back home after Christmas. It makes me sad that she never communicated any of this negativity to me to even give me a chance to try and empathize or apologize or have a moment of "holy shit dude, I am so sorry".
Waiting five years, then dropping this bombshell, it makes me feel guilty, but it feels like it is kind of by design.
Since then Ashnichrist has apologised for using the word 'Rape' in her Twittlonger and added that Zyori doesn't deserve that tag. However, she also added that she stood by everything she has said.
In an entirely separate thread, popular North American caster GrandGrant was accused of inappropriate behavior at The International 7 after party.
@cofactorstrudel, a Mobile game scenario writer, who attended the International 7 after party claimed that an intoxicated caster slurred at her and literally wouldn't let go of her hand until she wrenched it off him with all her strength. She later revealed that this person was Grant Harris a.k.a GrandGrant.
GrandGrant publicly apologized to her for this incident and stated that what he did “is inexcusable, alcohol or not” and that he wants to talk and learn what he could do to help the community.
Other Dota 2 esports personalities including Sajedene and Reinessa have also talked about instances where they were sexually harassed.