Suspended Valorant Pro Sinatra Denies Sexual Assault Allegations

3 years 2 months ago

Update: Sinatra has published a brief statement responding to the allegations against him. In a TwitLonger post, Sintra noted that the two recalled the relationship differently and apologized for how things ended. However, while he noted the relationship was "unhealthy," he said he "never assaulted [Cleo Hernandez] in any way." Sintra is "fully cooperating" with current investigations, saying he will provide the audio and clips Cleo referenced in her lengthy post.

Original Story: Valorant pro Jay "Sinatra" Won has been suspended from the competitive game and his team, the Sentinels, following an investigation into sexual assault allegations.

Cleo Hernandez posted a 10-page document about her and Won's nine-month relationship. In the lengthy statement, Hernandez detailed a relationship filled with "months of up and down fighting," instances of Won gaslighting and laughing at her, and other forms of physical and emotional abuse. Hernandez went in-depth about specifics and explicits in her statement, sharing text exchanges between her and Won, screenshots of DMs, and harrowing memories.

"I have avoided talking about any aspects of me and Jay's relationship for over a year," Hernandez wrote at the top of the post. "I never spoke about it mostly because this is horrifying and also because I've seen the way women in our community are treated when they try to talk about being hurt by prominent figures. I know he will use his platform and his fame to try and take me down and say this isn't true because that's who he is."

As a result of these allegations, both Valorant developer Riot Games and the Sentinels have suspended Sinatra while an internal investigation is underway. Furthermore, Sinatra will no longer compete in the Valorant Champions Tour slated to take place this weekend.

Sinatra was a household name in the Overwatch League, leading the San Francisco Shock to the 2019 grand finals--and winning the entire thing. He also won the MVP award in the same year. He transitioned from Overwatch to Valorant in April 2020, saying he "lost [his] passion."

Author
Jeremy Winslow

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