SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
PokerStars has confirmed that it will no longer work with social media personality Brian ‘True Geordie’ Davis to promote its online content and live streams.
The popular YouTuber has faced backlash for Islamophobic slurs made against controversial social media personality Andrew Tate.
Responding to a challenge to fight Tate, Davis mocked Tate’s recent conversion to Islam on a live stream of his True Geordie channel.
Davis insinuated the stereotype that Tate should blow himself up to prove “how about that life he really is”.
Clips of the comment were widely shared on Twitter and TikTok, with audiences condemning the Islamophobic taunt against Tate.
Davis responded yesterday by issuing an apology on YouTube, taking the blame for a “stupid comment made against a person who dislikes me”.
The YouTuber lamented using an idiotic joke to mock Tate, which is used to stereotype Muslims.
Yesterday evening, PokerStars issued a statement via Twitter, informing it had “cancelled its contract with True Geordie with immediate effect.”
We have terminated our contract with True Geordie with immediate effect. At PokerStars, we are committed to making poker as inclusive and accessible as possible, and do not tolerate any comments or attitudes that don’t align with our inclusive values.
— PokerStars (@PokerStars) November 8, 2022
The online poker room follows sportswear apparel firm Gymshark in cancelling its contract with Davis.
PokerStars has worked with the True Geordie channel since 2020, sponsoring ‘The Showdown‘ – a live-streamed show of home poker games featuring Davis, his friends and other social media stars.
In 2021, The Showdown was renewed by PokerStars, who lauded its partnership with True Geordie, as the show’s live streams reached top trending categories on YouTube and Twitch channels, above rivals and established stars of the niche.
