Riot Games and NAVI suspend Ardiis over “offensive language” during VCT co-stream

Rituraj Halder Published July 23, 2026

Popular VALORANT streamer and former professional player Ardis “ardiis” Svarenieks has been officially suspended from co-streaming all official VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) competitions after he was seen using discriminatory and offensive language during one of his own live streams. 

Riot Games brought down the hammer after an investigation into Ardiis’s co-stream of a VCT Game Changers EMEA Stage 3 match, citing violations of their Terms of Service regarding discriminatory and offensive language.

Shortly after Riot’s official announcement, esports organization Natus Vincere (NAVI), where Ardiis was signed as a content creator, announced that it was indefinitely suspending its relationship with the streamer.

How did the Ardiis controversy begin?

It all started during a broadcast of the VCT Game Changers EMEA Stage 3 match between GIANTX GC and Barça eSports GC. While hosting a co-stream alongside former Fnatic player Leo “Leo” Jannesson, Ardiis made derogatory comments directed at players who were not assigned female at birth (transgender).

During the stream, the pair repeatedly referred to these players as “Bumblebees”, which is a coded play on the transphobic slur “transformers”. Ardiis went as far as saying, “I don’t want to get banned, but we need a nickname for them, bro,” while also joking about changing his own gender to enter the Game Changers circuit.

Riot Games’ Game Changers circuit is specifically designed to create an inclusive competitive environment for women and marginalized genders. The usage of targeted, derogatory nicknames to invalidate competing players resulted in massive backlash from fellow content creators, esports players, and fans. 

The on-stream apology

Instead of defusing the situation, Ardiis initially doubled down on his stance, asserting that he was the only reason people were watching the Game Changers and claiming that multiple female players had privately messaged him in support.

He eventually posted a formal apology to social media stating:

“The comments I made on stream about the transgender community were unacceptable. Even for me it was too much. I’m so sorry to everyone I offended; it won’t happen again.”

However, community criticism only intensified after clips emerged showing Ardiis writing the written apology live on stream while complaining about the situation. 

Recognizing the widespread backlash, Riot Games issued an official co-streaming ruling through its EMEA esports channels:

• Suspension scope: Ardiis is suspended from co-streaming all official VCT competitions.
• Duration: Effective immediately through August 19, 2026.
• Future sanctions: Riot explicitly warned that future policy violations could lead to a permanent revocation of co-streaming rights.

Minutes after Riot’s ruling, NAVI released an official statement also cutting ties with the content creator, saying they fully support the decision and suspend cooperation with Ardiis. 

Featured image credit: Riot Games