‘Maniac’ decided to step down from the ESL Pro League broadcast following numerous allegations of sexual assault made against him.
Swiss analyst Mathieu ‘Maniac’ Quiquerez has chosen to withdraw from the ESL Pro League Season 20 broadcast on Wednesday due to allegations of sexual assault against him.
‘Maniac’ was scheduled to appear as on-air talent at ESL Pro League Season 20, with a commitment of nearly three weeks from September 3 to 22. However, he made the decision to leave the role after only two days in order to ensure the quality of the broadcast. In a statement, he expressed his determination not to divert attention from the CS2 action, stating that it was in the best interest of all involved for him to take a step back.
The announcement was made shortly after freelance British journalist Hannah Marie ZT provided a detailed and disturbing account of an encounter with ‘Maniac’. She alleged that ‘Maniac’ repeatedly groped, inappropriately touched, grinded on, and grabbed her despite her clear discomfort and lack of reciprocation at a CS2 afterparty earlier this summer.
In his response, ‘Maniac’ provided a detailed account of his “drastically different recollection” of the exchange and firmly stated that he does “not believe any sexual assault took place.” He asserted that there had been an understanding that the exchange was consensual, yet he also acknowledged the possibility that he may have missed cues indicating that his behavior was no longer accepted.
Maniac Statement
Shortly after ‘Maniac’s response, esports host and interviewer Daisy ‘DAMP’ Powers posted on X, confirming Hannah Marie ZT’s version of events and alleging that she too was “groped” and “chased across the dance floor” by ‘Maniac’ at the same party, with witnesses present. ‘Maniac’ did not respond to the second accusation when it was made public.
After the incident, both women said they reported it to the appropriate authorities. Hannah Marie ZT revealed that the company conducted an internal investigation and concluded that her allegations were valid.
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