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BESTIA Suspends CEO Over Racist Remarks
Argentinian esports org takes action after co-owner's offensive comments on stream.
Feb. 3, 2026 at 7:47am
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BESTIA, a prominent South American esports organization, has suspended its co-CEO and co-owner Santiago 'Santutu' Rodriguez after he made racist comments during a recent Kick stream. The decision follows a wave of public backlash and an apology from Rodriguez, who said the remarks 'don't represent me or speak even a little to who I am as a human being.' BESTIA has distanced itself from the incident, stating the opinions 'do not represent or reflect the values we promote as an organization' and that they 'categorically reject any form of racism or discrimination.'
Why it matters
The suspension of BESTIA's co-CEO highlights the growing scrutiny and consequences esports leaders face for making offensive statements, especially those involving racism. As esports continues to expand globally, organizations are under pressure to uphold inclusive values and distance themselves from any discriminatory behavior by leadership.
The details
The incident occurred on January 31st, following BESTIA's elimination from the FiReCONTER Season 1 Counter-Strike 2 event. Before the organization released a statement, Rodriguez posted an apology across his social media channels, stating 'Truly and in all honesty, I can't believe what I said on my stream. It doesn't represent me or speak even a little to who I am as a human being. I am sorry from the bottom of my heart to everyone. I will step away for a time to reflect on my actions and think about everything that happened.'
- The incident took place on January 31st, 2026.
- BESTIA released a statement on February 3rd, 2026.
The players
Santiago 'Santutu' Rodriguez
The co-CEO and co-owner of BESTIA esports organization who made racist comments during a recent Kick stream, leading to his suspension.
BESTIA
A prominent South American esports organization that has suspended its co-CEO and co-owner over his racist remarks and stated they 'categorically reject any form of racism or discrimination.'
What they’re saying
“BESTIA apologises to everyone for the statements made by Santutu. These opinions do not represent or reflect the values we promote as an organisation. We categorically reject any form of racism or discrimination.”
— BESTIA (esportsinsider.com)
“Truly and in all honesty, I can't believe what I said on my stream. It doesn't represent me or speak even a little to who I am as a human being. I am sorry from the bottom of my heart to everyone. I will step away for a time to reflect on my actions and think about everything that happened.”
— Santiago 'Santutu' Rodriguez, Co-CEO and Co-Owner, BESTIA (Social Media)
What’s next
The future of Santiago 'Santutu' Rodriguez's position within BESTIA remains unclear as he serves an indefinite suspension for his racist remarks.
The takeaway
This incident underscores the growing importance for esports organizations to uphold inclusive values and swiftly address any discriminatory behavior by leadership, as the global industry faces increased scrutiny around issues of diversity and inclusion.
