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Echo Fox 
co-owner and SourceRock Partners Managing Partner Khalid Jones is happy that Rick Fox has decided to stay on, telling The Esports Observer that the organization is “on pace” to remove the investor that inspired him to leave. This is the first time Jones has spoken to the press since the Echo Fox conflict became public in April.
Echo Fox joined the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS)
in December 2015, by acquiring Gravity Gaming’s LCS spot.
“It’s unadulteratedly a positive [to have Rick Fox stay],” Jones told The Esports Observer. “His repute in the community has been well-documented. I don’t know that it can be denied.”
In April, Fox announced that he would be leaving the organization due to racist comments and threats against his family. Echo Fox confirmed reports that “a limited partner” of the organization “used a racial epithet towards individuals both verbally and via email.” In May, Dextero received copies of the threatening emails and noted that they were sent by Spectrum Business Ventures CEO Amit Raizada. Raizada later admitted to some, but not all of Fox’s accusations.
Following an investigation, LCS commissioner Chris Greely “directed Echo Fox to take appropriate corrective action within 60 days.”
“We’ve been very diligent about hitting that pace [of taking action within 60 days] and that speaks to the fact that we were already making efforts before Riot [made] a pronouncement,” Jones told TEO, adding that the complaints were being addressed “far prior” to their becoming publicly exposed.
Credit: Riot Games/lolesports
“The fact of the matter is that [Raizada] did something very heinous, reprehensible, and—for many—an unforgivable thing that doesn’t vitiate the fact that he owns a piece of Echo Fox,” said Jones. “It’s not as simple as sending a letter and saying ‘You no longer own what you used to own.’ If it were that simple, it would be done.
“We’re making efforts on our side and looking for a swift resolution so we can get back to the business of running esports competitions and having a good experience with fans more so than the discussions about which investor said what about whom.”
In the meantime, Jones expressed gratitude for Echo Fox teams and members of the organization that continued to do their best despite the negative public attention.
“It’s an auger for the way that the way within the organization has been able to focus on their job and compartmentalize,” he said, praising Echo Fox for defeating Team Liquid
“Mind you, this was an investor [that caused the issue], it wasn’t the organization at large,” Jones added. “The organization as a whole has always stood for principles that the esports community can get behind. That has never changed.”
This interview was conducted by Trent Murray.
