![BLAST responds to Maniac sexual assault allegations: “We have no current plans to work with [him]” cover image](https://admin.esports.gg/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Maniac-BLAST-sexual-assault-allegations-968x544.jpg)
BLAST also said this type of behaviour “will not be tolerated.”
Tournament organizer BLAST has responded to the sexual assault allegations surrounding CS2 talent member Mathieu "Maniac" Quiquerez on Thursday, Sept. 5. This comes one day after two women accused Quiquerez of gripping and touching them without consent at an afterparty following the BLAST Premier Spring Final in June 2024.
The women accusing Quiquerez are the freelancer esports journalist Hannah Marie ZT and esports interviewer and host Daisy "Dampptowel" Powers. While Quiquerez denied any wrongdoing thus far, the allegations have been backed up by fellow esports talent Jack "Jacky" Peters, who is engaged to Daisy Powers and was there in the G2-hosted afterparty for talent who worked at the BLAST event.
According to the allegations, Quiquerez inappropriately groped and touched Hanna Marie ZT and Daisy Powers multiple times, making them leave the dancefloor. They also said Quiquerez followed them upstairs after they left.
The CS2 community had been waiting for BLAST's response since yesterday as the victims said the tournament organizer allegedly ran an investigation and ignored further pleas. While BLAST didn't disclose much due to "reasons of confidentiality", it informed that it has no current plans to work with Quiquerez.
BLAST responds to sexual assault allegations involving Maniac
"We are aware of social media posts regarding a complaint of misconduct against a BLAST Premier talent member, following a BLAST event. For reasons of confidentiality, we are unable to disclose specific details, but can confirm that this complain was immediately and formally investigated and resulted in the complaing being upheld against the talent member, who is not a BLAST employee. We have communicated the outcome to the complainant in writing, and we have no current plans to work with the talent member. Behaviour of this type has no place in any setting and everyone has the right to go to events without fearing the type of conduct that has been described to us and on social media. It will not be tolerated."
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How did other tournament organizers react to Maniac sexual assault allegations?
As a result of the sexual assault allegations, Quiquerez immediately pulled himself out of the ESL Pro League Season 20 broadcast in Malta. Esports.gg reached out to ESL FACEIT Group, the event organizer, yesterday and got the following response.
PGL and ESL confirm Maniac will no longer be a part of their events
"We are aware of allegations made against an on-broadcast talent who has appeared on EFG’s analyst desk this year," EFG said. "While this incident did not take place at an EFG event, the safety of fans, players, and staff is our No. 1 priority. We are investigating the matter, and moving forward, the talent will no longer be part of the ongoing broadcast of ESL Pro League."
PGL, who worked with Maniac in the past, also commented on the allegations via a short statement to Dust2.dk.
"[He's] no longer part of the talent group for our events," PGL said. ESL, BLAST, and PGL are currently the most important tournament organizers in CS2 esports.
