"James is an ass - By James Harding": Fired Dota 2 Host Responds to Gabe Newell in 16-page Statement

Following a public statement from Gabe Newell calling the host “an ass,” Dota 2 commentator James “2GD” Harding has released a statement regarding his firing from the ongoing Shanghai Major tournament.

[Orejillz]

Oh damn.

[donthate]

Do we really care what happens behind the scene?

The collaboration of @ssholes to push more @sshattery onto the internet is unneeded. Glad Valve/Gabe came to their senses and got rid of this guy sending a statement that we do not want this sort of behavior from hosts.

Whatever went down, James you are an @ss!

[GigawattConduit]

Hooooooly crap that's great.

[DC777]

That statement will take on a life of it's own.

[Hoffmann]

What a meltdown.

[dkp23]

16 pages? Lulz. Bitter gf mode.

[jmac53]

Yeah 16 pages, is there a TLDR?

[jdiggitty]

Eff you?

[pompombrum]

TLDR version? The moral of the story and general words to live by, don't criticize higher ups with egos.

[sourav93]

Just read the whole thing, and to be completely honest, if all of it happened as James said it did, then Valve is the one that came off as an "ass". Especially Ali.

[kstuffs]

It came of as Valve was incompetent.

[joab777]

This is what usually happens in many businesses. There are a ton of little things that occur that lead to a situation. The problem is that regardless of why it came off as it did, Gabe saw it and didn't like it and fired him, regardless of who was right or wrong. Very few ppl will ever read this or hear his side. Theu will see small clips and pass judgement.

It isn't about reality but perception and Gabe knows that Valves perception is all that matters. Shoulda left the "ass" part out though.

[rainslacker]

Well if history proves anything, the person complaining always tells it exactly how it is, and they did no wrong./s

Probably a lot more to this than what's been said. Unfortunately, the page wont load for me, so I'll have to enjoy reading what is apparently a rather long statement at another time.

Would prefer to see something like this from the Konami/Kojima incident, but I won't hold my breath.

[pompombrum]

Holy crap this guy has came a long way.. I'm pretty sure I remember him from back in the UT days.

[hiredhelp]

He started out wrong said joke break the Ice he later told cut the jokes he did.. There was no reason to sack him after he was told not too.
So Valve is a company for most part up themselvs cos they been told what they want to hear by Gabe which intern he pays them silly amounts of pay?
Not supprised hes stupidly rich yet in my eyes sad to say Lazy doesnt listen to his longterm fans me inc.
Re masters of how many CS? Left 4 dead 2 was how long ago Half life N3ver be the company you once where that got you where you are now Gabe.

[stupidusername]

My brain hurt, this was hard to read.

[ifistbrowni]

I read the whole thing. Not a fan of DOTA, Valve, PC gaming, etc. Read because I was bored and curious.

The guy seems like a pre-madona. A few things that stood out to me:

Makes porn joke during opening (after canceling Valves hotel room and ordering a more expensive room on valves bill, highlighted later in my post) and is told to not make another joke like it. Allegedly follows the new rule until:

Calling someone a "bottom bitch." He highlights that the comment was directed toward someone he's friends with (but it's unclear if he made this obvious in his presentation). Regardless, the term "bottom-bitch" could be offensive (what term isn't offensive now-a-days). Bottom bitch is a term that pretty much means you're the bottom "mate."

Telling someone at Valve you quit your job and you don't plan on hosting the event anymore and then hanging around to hope Valve begs him to change his mind. Typically, when you say you quit, you quit. That's really all there is to it. He should be grateful anyone ever reached out to him for hosting privilege again.

Demanding a room without a roommate. Not a big deal the way he presents the argument, but the way it's executed is very undesirable. Valve pays for his room to be with a roommate, the host doesn't like it so he asks the hotel to give him a suite and "bill Valve."

The way he describes it is: Valve pays him $12,000 for hosting the event. Valve pays and additional $500 for his room and board. He gets a room for $1000 So if Valve was going to pay $500 for his room and board, he now only pays $500 and Valve pays the other $500.

The problem with this: Valve already used the $500 on the room he turned down (which ironically gave his pre-determined room-mate more leg-room since he had a roommate who never showed up). If the guy wanted a suite, he should've ponied up and just paid for the Suite out of his own pocket entirely. Instead, he took the approach of, "Valve will pay for it and just deduct it from what they already owe me for the event." Definitely isn't professional trying to collect payment before your services are rendered.

Splitting his hosting time with one of the other hired host at a previous event. Valve hired two hosts to do an entire event and he took it upon him self to devise a plan where he works half the time and the other person works half the time. Genius! I don't know why he thought he could get away with that. Valve is paying a premium (judging by your $12k figure plus room and board) for your inept hosting ability/personality. He was kinda unlucky that he chose the "late shift" because it straight up looked like he didn't show up for his job when Host 1 was on the panel and he was not.

I don't know how long these events last. I figure, in my head, they're a long weekend (Friday-Monday). Which would be 48 work hours with his alleged 12 hour "hard" shifts. That's $250 an hour (unless I'm wrong about how long the event actually is). I feel like this guy needs to step away from this "profession" and see what work is like.

He complains about being highered by Valve to do a 90min event on ESPN2 asking how was he supposed to entertain for 90minutes without live game-play... well, that's what hosts are for. I'm currently watching the pre-game to the Stadium series (NHL) game and there are 2 hosts giving statistics, analysis and background stories to pass the time. Maybe if he researched the subject he had been selected to host for, then he wouldn't have been so reliant on other people to do his job for him (which he mentions someone came along and "saved him" by giving in depth character stats, etc).

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

Not to shit on your comment with a support short one. But you got this guy to the T, this is exactly what he's like. And frankly Gabe is right. He is an ass.

[hiredhelp]

hmm Idk just just read well flicked threw very tired in bed at the article last night, maybe I miss read some parts you guys seem to know more my bad.

[stupidusername]

Though alot of it is speculation I believe you are right in what you are saying.

Though for Gabe to call him a ass has the potential to ruin James's career, so he definitely has a right to defend himself. Even though he was fired for a just reason, Gabe acted like a total dick with his statement.