Report: Rick Fox Set to Leave Echo Fox, Cites Racist Comments from Shareholder
- Former pro basketball player and Echo Fox founder Rick Fox is leaving the organization, according to an email reportedly sent to major shareholders.
- In the email, Fox cites a “recent outrageous and abhorrent display of pure racism made by a significant Echo Fox shareholder” and threats to his family as reasons for his departure.
- Reports suggest that the inciting incident was a heated email exchange between a shareholder and former Echo Fox CEO Jace Hall that included a racial slur.
Echo Fox founder Rick Fox has allegedly notified shareholders of his intention to leave the organization, citing a hostile work environment, according to a report by Richard Lewis for Dexerto.
The Esports Observer has reached out to Jace Hall, and Rick Fox will update this story as more details become available. TEO was not able to independently verify the information as of this writing.
Echo Fox provided The Esports Observer with the following statement:
There have been incidents in recent weeks in which a limited partner of the Echo Fox organization, who is not an employee, officer or director of Echo Fox, used a racial epithet towards individuals both verbally and via email. One such incident was detailed in media accounts today. And although that incident was not directed towards an employee, officer, member or shareholder of Echo Fox, racial intolerance connected to Echo Fox is entirely unacceptable. There have been other reported incidents where the shareholder in question used this same vile language towards Rick Fox personally. These incidents are especially significant for us as Echo Fox boasts an unparalleled level of diversity in its principal ownership group, management, leadership and player base. Upon being made aware of the incidents, the Company has made various demands to the offending investor, including the investor’s disassociation from the company and we are continuing to work diligently towards this end.
Fox reportedly wrote an email anonymously shared with Dexerto stating “the recent outrageous and abhorrent display of pure racism made by a significant Echo Fox shareholder as well as threats to my family have made it impossible for me to continue to remain associated with the company.”
The email tells shareholders that Fox’s position, as well as “the entity that owns my shares” are available. He listed options such as acquiring his entity, saying he will move on the “first deal that sits well.”
Related Article: Echo Fox Names CELSIUS as Energy Drink Sponsor
The email omitted the shareholder’s name, but sources “close to the situation” told Dexerto that the inciting incident could have been a heated email exchange between former Echo Fox CEO Jace Hall and a shareholder at Vision Venture Partners. The shareholder in question allegedly called Hall a racial slur. It was reportedly not the first time this person had used racial slurs to describe Hall or even Fox himself.
“I will not support or be associated with such behavior and attitudes displayed at the shareholder level,” the email reads. “Racism is an anathema to what my personal brand strives for and tolerating any form of discrimination such as this is not acceptable.”
Fox formed Echo Fox in 2015 when he acquired a North American League of Legends Championship Series spot from Gravity Gaming. The organization now participates in titles beyond League of Legends, including Street Fighter and Super Smash Bros.
Recent brand sponsors include CELSIUS, Audeze, and OPSEAT.
Source: eSports Observer