NAVI streamer and former Valorant pro Ardis ‘ardiis’ Svarenieks has apologized after facing backlash for comments made during a Valorant Game Changers co-stream that many viewers described as transphobic. The apology comes after clips from the stream spread across social media, prompting criticism from members of the Valorant community and calls for Riot Games and NAVI to respond. ardiis says comments “were unacceptable” During the Game Changers co-stream, ardiis and former Fnatic player Leo ‘Leo’ Jannesson referred to certain players as “Bumblebees,” a term many viewers interpreted as a reference to transgender competitors. They accept you, they mold you, they say ‘oh we love you, we do this, you’re not really a boy who’s 10 years old, you’re really called Amelia.” Additionally, some have questioned the sincerity of his apology, as stream clips as he was composing it show him smiling and asking “what do I say sorry for, genuinely?” Riot’s 2026 VCT Game Changers rulebook states that eligible players must identify as women or gender diverse, with the competition designed to create opportunities and visibility for women and other marginalized genders in Valorant esports.
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Dexerto