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Ron Johnson resigns at Riot Games following social media post about George Floyd

Bullet Club

Banned
Ron Johnson resigns at Riot Games following social media post about George Floyd

A Riot Games executive who had been under internal investigation after sharing a Facebook image downplaying the death of George Floyd has resigned, the company confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.

Ron Johnson, who served as Riot's global head of consumer products since December, was placed on leave Wednesday after he made a post that questioned motives behind media and public attention on Floyd's death. The post also outlined Floyd's criminal record and alleged that he used methamphetamine and was a danger to others prior to his death.

"The sentiment expressed in the image in question is abhorrent and runs directly counter to our values and our belief that addressing systemic racism requires immediate societal change, something that we're committed to working toward," a Riot spokesperson told ESPN. "As we shared last week, Riot is taking thoughtful and deliberate action to help combat racism and injustice in the communities where we work and live.

"To start, we're committing $1 million to areas where we know we can make an impact, including justice reform, long-term solutions to address racial bias, and support for local Black-owned businesses. We're also striving to change the face of our industry and create opportunities, including by investing $10 million in founders underrepresented in the games industry and helping create a future pipeline of underrepresented talent for the gaming and tech world. We know there is much work to be done, and we vow to do our part."

Riot Games CEO Nicolo Laurent sent out an internal note to employees announcing Johnson's resignation Thursday night, a copy which was obtained by ESPN. Laurent declined to inform employees of measures taken within the investigation, but said they would take to regroup in a regularly scheduled, all-hands meeting soon.

"I won't comment on Ron's intentions in posting that particular message, or on any of his political opinions that have been shared in the media or otherwise," Laurent wrote to his staff. "We must respect that everyone is entitled to their own political views.

"However, I have to be honest with you. I believe Ron exercised really poor judgment here. It resulted in a post that was harmful to many of us and our broader community. It was insensitive and in this moment, it undermines the commitment we've made to stand against all acts of injustice, racism, prejudice, and hate. It also hinders our ability to create an inclusive environment for our entire community: Rioters, players, and partners alike.

"Ron understands this and recognizes that he will be ineffective as a leader at Riot going forward. As a result, he has resigned, effective today."

Floyd, a black man, was killed in Minneapolis on May 25 after police officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, kneeled on Floyd's neck for more than eight minutes. Video of what happened showed Floyd handcuffed on the ground, pleading for his life and saying, "I can't breathe." He became unresponsive and was pronounced dead a short time later.

Chauvin and three officers at the scene were fired by the Minneapolis Police Department the following day. A third-degree murder charge against Chauvin has since been upgraded to second-degree murder on June 3, while aiding and abetting charges for both second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter were brought against the other offices.

Floyd's death has led to increased conversation about racial injustice and police brutality in the United States and has sparked protests in more than 750 U.S. cities and others across the globe.

Source: ESPN

Should have posted that social media stuff here, so anyone could see what he wrote or said .

edit found it [he was spot on]:

mwgziwsd1goxfv3dsk3r.jpg



Imagine being fired for making the correct comment about a drug addict robber. What a crazy m'd up world we live in.
mwgziwsd1goxfv3dsk3r.jpg
 
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If he posted that image, then I'd say that last line is the only real problem there.

Pointing out the guy was a habitual criminal and should not be made into a saintly figure is one thing, but wishing he'd died sooner is crossing a line that instantly undermines the point he was trying to make.
 

Umbral

Member
"I won't comment on Ron's intentions in posting that particular message, or on any of his political opinions that have been shared in the media or otherwise," Laurent wrote to his staff. "We must respect that everyone is entitled to their own political views.”

“Here at Riot we respect others opinions even if they differ from our own because diversity is our strength.”

”Hey, Ron. You’re fucking fired bigot. Your shit’s in a box on your desk, racist. Security will escort you out. We flattened your tires you alt-right nazi.”
 

bender

What time is it?
Can we get a picture of the police officer who suffocated George Floyd to death that lists the 17 complaints lobbied against him? The posted image is basically saying, no one deserves to die but Gorge Floyd deserves to die because of his criminal past." Parroting"he's no saint" is ridiculous too. Plenty of Saints had a checkered past. And if we take the picture at face value, assuming he served the full five year sentence from his 2007 conviction, it looks like he's been on the straight and narrow for going on eight years. Wouldn't this be a success story or Is there no room for reform in our society? Is that not the purpose of incarceration? But wait, his toxicology report! It's almost like there is an opioid epidemic in the US. Let's just choke out all addicts, that will correct the problem. Gross.

edit: English fail
 
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Can we get a picture of the police officer who suffocated George Floyd to death that lists the 17 complaints lobbied against him? The posted image is basically saying, no one deserves to die but Gorge Floyd deserves to die because of his criminal past." Parroting"he's no saint" is ridiculous too. Plenty of Saints had a checkered past. And if we take the picture at face value, assuming he served the full five year sentence from his 2007 conviction, it looks like he's been on the straight and narrow for going on eight years. Wouldn't this be a success story or Is there no room for reform in our society? Is that not the purpose of incarceration? But wait, his toxicology report! It's almost like their is an opioid epidemic in the US. Let's just choke out all addicts, that will correct the problem. Gross.
"Plenty of Saints ......but wait, his toxicology report! "

giphy.webp
 

sol_bad

Member
Eh there's a time and place for pointing out shit like that.

And it's right now when the topic is at the forefront of the news.

Can we get a picture of the police officer who suffocated George Floyd to death that lists the 17 complaints lobbied against him? The posted image is basically saying, no one deserves to die but Gorge Floyd deserves to die because of his criminal past." Parroting"he's no saint" is ridiculous too. Plenty of Saints had a checkered past. And if we take the picture at face value, assuming he served the full five year sentence from his 2007 conviction, it looks like he's been on the straight and narrow for going on eight years. Wouldn't this be a success story or Is there no room for reform in our society? Is that not the purpose of incarceration? But wait, his toxicology report! It's almost like their is an opioid epidemic in the US. Let's just choke out all addicts, that will correct the problem. Gross.

How many meth heads have you had to deal with as a police officer and how many of them did as you asked them to do?
 
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ToadMan

Member
Can we get a picture of the police officer who suffocated George Floyd to death that lists the 17 complaints lobbied against him? The posted image is basically saying, no one deserves to die but Gorge Floyd deserves to die because of his criminal past." Parroting"he's no saint" is ridiculous too. Plenty of Saints had a checkered past. And if we take the picture at face value, assuming he served the full five year sentence from his 2007 conviction, it looks like he's been on the straight and narrow for going on eight years. Wouldn't this be a success story or Is there no room for reform in our society? Is that not the purpose of incarceration? But wait, his toxicology report! It's almost like their is an opioid epidemic in the US. Let's just choke out all addicts, that will correct the problem. Gross.

Yeah I’m somewhere in the same point of view as this.

If one assumes that incarceration is a deterrent or a rehabilitation, it’s fair to Say that once a person has paid the price for their crime they aren’t to be automatically assumed a criminal for the rest of their lives.

Plenty of people get into the wrong run in their earlier lives and find a new way later in life. Plenty don’t of course but just dredging up history like this to justify his treatment is totally wrong without supporting evidence.

Certainly a death sentence for being high is not an appropriate punishment.

It wouldn’t be difficult to imagine the officer getting the history of this guy as a prior felon and treating him more harshly as a result.

On the other side though I’m not gonna jump to conclusions about the officers involved. There’s a legal process to go through but I fear the media circus and popular bias against them will make it very difficult to get a trial that is genuinely neutral.

Imagine the riots if these guys aren’t given jail time... politically speaking they’ve got to be given harsh sentences regardless of the facts surrounding this incident. I assume they will deserve it - but I’m not in possession of all the facts.
 

kyoji

Member
Should have posted that social media stuff here, so anyone could see what he wrote or said .

edit found it [he was spot on]:

mwgziwsd1goxfv3dsk3r.jpg



Imagine being fired for making the correct comment about a drug addict robber. What a crazy m'd up world we live in.
yet you can shoot up a school full of children and walk out alive long as you give yourself up, or how about a church or perhaps a random event killing multiple people. Such 'thuggery' but wait these people have mental illness, am i doing it right?
 

SleepDoctor

Banned
George Floyd was a fucking thug. Didn't deserve to die the way he did but he's no great loss to the world.


Yea.... last conviction was 13 years ago. What a "fuckin thug". Surveillance didn't show him resisting either.

Regardless of which way you put it, there's no justifying in his murder. Its pathetic we're in a time where everything is offensive. Can't be transphobic, homophobic, or anti anything basically but its still perfectly ok to be a racist pos.
 

marianus

Member
Yea.... last conviction was 13 years ago. What a "fuckin thug". Surveillance didn't show him resisting either.

Regardless of which way you put it, there's no justifying in his murder. Its pathetic we're in a time where everything is offensive. Can't be transphobic, homophobic, or anti anything basically but its still perfectly ok to be a racist pos.
Calling a criminal a criminal is not racist. If he was white you would not be complaining.
 

GymWolf

Gold Member
For a moment i readed ryan johnson resign and i was dancing naked for the joy...
 
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yet you can shoot up a school full of children and walk out alive long as you give yourself up, or how about a church or perhaps a random event killing multiple people. Such 'thuggery' but wait these people have mental illness, am i doing it right?
Have you seen anyone anywhere defending the cops actions? I haven't.

The cop should have been able to recognize that floyd was drugged out of his mind and won't be able to withstand being stepped on for so long.
 

Grinchy

Banned
Yeah, the guy was a real piece of shit. Maybe kneeling on his neck for almost 10 minutes was a bad move, but this was no hero.

If body cam footage comes out and he was clearly resisting arrest leading up to kneegate, it'll make it all even worse.
 
Yeah, the guy was a real piece of shit. Maybe kneeling on his neck for almost 10 minutes was a bad move, but this was no hero.

If body cam footage comes out and he was clearly resisting arrest leading up to kneegate, it'll make it all even worse.

There is footage actually, surveillance footage of him resisting, purposely falling to the ground and stuff so they couldn't get him in the police car, I won't link it but look up Red Elephants.
 

rickyEGM

Banned
Yeah, the guy was a real piece of shit. Maybe kneeling on his neck for almost 10 minutes was a bad move, but this was no hero.

If body cam footage comes out and he was clearly resisting arrest leading up to kneegate, it'll make it all even worse.
The footage of him resisting already exist. They gave him a lot of chances, but he was drunk and high. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
 
The footage of him resisting already exist. They gave him a lot of chances, but he was drunk and high. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

I think the "play stupid games..." idea is a bit too far because this was still beyond the pale for police brutality, it's just a weird martyr. Why isn't that Breonna lady the martyr they uphold? Killed in her sleep in a no-knock raid and Rand Paul is currently introducing legislation in her memory to stop no-knock raids (I saw some stat about how 80% of no-knocks are for drugs and 70% of those find no drugs).
 
S

Steve.1981

Unconfirmed Member
Based on what we now know about him, George Floyd wasn't a saint. He did do some bad stuff & it is a bit ridiculous to paint him with angel wings as they did at his funeral.

But who is a saint? I'm not. I did some bad stuff in my life. Nothing involving guns, because I live in Scotland, but bad stuff that haunts me nonetheless.

The point is that nobody from poorer backgrounds is perfect really. Most of us fuck up a few times in our lives. A small minority manage to live in our neighbourhoods without putting a foot wrong (& good for them, seriously), but most of us have demons & troubles of some kind.

That doesn't give cops the right to treat people the way they treated George Floyd. There was no reason to kneel on his neck & crush his windpipe for damn near 10 minutes. Come on now.

This dumb fucker was basically saying "Eh. He deserved it anyway"

That's stupid.
 

Cleared_Hot

Member
If he posted that image, then I'd say that last line is the only real problem there.

Pointing out the guy was a habitual criminal and should not be made into a saintly figure is one thing, but wishing he'd died sooner is crossing a line that instantly undermines the point he was trying to make.
what kind of fucking monster puts a gun to a womb though? He was a certified fucking piece of shit. Where the fucking meetoo-ers at on that one?!
 
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