Jay “Sinatraa” Won has been suspended by esports team Sentinels as they launch an investigation into allegations of sexual assault. Won has also been banned from playing in Valorant tournaments by developer Riot Games, pending their own investigation.
We are aware of the current situation regarding Jay “Sinatraa” Won and have launched an investigation internally. While the investigation is pending, he is suspended from the team.
We will provide a further update once the investigation has concluded.
— Sentinels (@Sentinels) March 10, 2021
In the last few days, Won has been accused by his ex-girlfriend Cleo “cle0h” Hernandez of sexual abuse during their nine-month relationship from over a year ago. The allegations range from manipulative behaviour and emotional abuse to rape (though Hernandez stops short of calling it rape, she states that while she did not physically resist, she tried to refuse sex with Won on numerous occasions), and includes an audio recording of something that happened “countless” times.
Won has denied the allegations of assault, saying that Hernandez “recalls our relationship differently”, and that he is cooperating with the investigations, providing “the full audio and video clips” Hernandez has referenced.
Won rose to prominence through his success as an Overwatch esports player, playing for the San Francisco Shock in the Overwatch League and receiving the MVP award as the team won the 2019 Overwatch League season. In April 2020, he announced his retirement from the Overwatch League and instead shifted to playing the then in beta Valorant from Riot Games.
As a high profile player, Blizzard created an “Alien” Overwatch League MVP skin that players could purchase in 2020. In the wake of the allegations, Blizzard has stated they will offer refunds of the skin to players that request one. The Overwatch League Championship and MVP badges will also be removed from the skin in a future patch.
