TL;DR
- Cloud9 signed IWillDominate despite his recent LPP ban and ongoing toxicity controversies
- The one-year LPP suspension removes co-streaming privileges and requires Riot Games conduct review
- Viewership dropped from 18K-20K to under 10K following the ban implementation
- Community response remains divided between appreciating game knowledge and criticizing toxic influence
- Strategic move aims to leverage his established audience despite significant brand risks
In a surprising strategic move, Cloud9 has officially confirmed the addition of former professional competitor Christian “IWillDominate” Rivera to their content creation roster. This decision comes during a particularly challenging period for the streamer, who recently faced suspension from Riot Games’ League Partnership Program, making the timing especially noteworthy for industry observers.
Rivera joins Cloud9’s established lineup of content personalities, including retired professional player Zachary “Sneaky” Scuderi and former coach Christopher “MonteCristo” Mykles. This expansion demonstrates Cloud9’s commitment to diversifying their entertainment offerings beyond competitive play alone.
We are excited to announce our new Cloud9 Streamer & Content Creator,
@IWDominateLoL!
#C9WINRead more:
https://t.co/JEsOkb0bE9
pic.twitter.com/K15Waa1BKK— Cloud9 (@Cloud9)
August 7, 2020
Cloud9’s decision to onboard IWillDominate arrives while he remains excluded from the League Partnership Program (LPP). This suspension specifically revoked his authorization to conduct co-streams of LCS professional matches along with additional program benefits. The disciplinary measure carries a minimum duration of twelve months, after which Riot Games will reassess Rivera’s behavioral compliance.
The organization emphasized in their formal statement that they anticipate valuable contributions from an experienced broadcaster and ex-professional who possesses comprehensive game expertise.
“His analytical understanding of League of Legends mechanics stands unparalleled within the community, and his enthusiasm for the title’s ecosystem generates tremendous excitement about his Cloud9 integration. We eagerly anticipate the innovative programming he will develop,”the Cloud9 announcement articulated.
IWillDominate joins C9 despite accusations of toxic behavior
Riot’s disciplinary action against IWillDominate surprised many community members, particularly given his substantial audience engagement through popular LCS co-streaming broadcasts. The streamer had previously been under monitored probation status before Riot determined additional unspecified violations warranted full suspension.
Social media platforms reflected polarized perspectives regarding this personnel addition. Significant portions of the League community perceive IWillDominate as contributing negatively to gaming culture and presenting inappropriate modeling for younger viewers. Despite these concerns, his co-streams consistently attracted viewership exceeding 10,000 simultaneous spectators, complemented by successful podcast ventures like “The Crackdown.”
Although widely regarded as one of the most perceptive analytical co-streamers covering LCS matches, IWillDominate’s audience numbers have significantly declined since the LPP exclusion took effect. Prior to the suspension, his broadcast peaks regularly reached between 18,000-20,000 viewers during co-streaming sessions. Recently, however, maintaining viewership above 10,000 has presented challenges. The Cloud9 affiliation may revitalize his popularity metrics, though achieving previous audience levels appears unlikely while LPP restrictions remain active.
From a strategic perspective, Cloud9’s decision represents calculated brand risk-taking. Organizations must balance audience reach against community perception management, particularly when integrating personalities with controversial histories. Successful navigation of these tensions requires sophisticated crisis communication planning and clear behavioral expectations.
Content creators navigating disciplinary histories should consider implementing transparent improvement narratives and community engagement initiatives to rebuild trust. For teams considering similar acquisitions, establishing clear conduct benchmarks and redemption timelines can mitigate potential reputation damage.
Action Checklist
- Conduct comprehensive background check including previous disciplinary records and community sentiment analysis
- Establish clear behavioral expectations and performance metrics in the contract
- Develop crisis communication plan for potential community backlash scenarios
- Create content diversification strategy to leverage creator’s strengths across multiple platforms
No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » Cloud9 signs IWillDominate after TL departure despite LPP ban Cloud9 signs controversial streamer IWillDominate despite LPP ban and community toxicity concerns