Home Gaming EA drops NHL cover star following rape allegations

EA drops NHL cover star following rape allegations

1 min read
7

NHL16

Because we live in a generally sunny clime, Ice Hockey isn’t quite as popular a sport here as the one played on a verdant field. Unless you ardently follow the sport, you likely have no idea who Patrick Kane is. Truth is, neither do I – but he’s been removed as one of the cover athletes of EA’s impending NHL 16.

Kane is currently embroiled in investigation, following an alleged rape at his Hamburg, New York home.

Says Second City Hockey:

The News reports that Kane met the woman and a friend at SkyBar, a popular nightclub in Buffalo, last Saturday night before he allegedly invited them to his home “for a private party.” The accuser alleges that the crime happened soon afterwards at the home when “she went by herself into another room, where Kane followed her, overpowered her and raped her.”

EA has dropped him like a hot potato.

“In light of the ongoing investigation involving Patrick Kane, he will no longer be a spokesperson for the launch of EA Sports NHL 16,” said EA. “He will not appear on the EA Sports NHL 16 cover nor participate in other EA Sports NHL 16 promotional activities.”

No criminal charges have been filed as yet apparently. While I believe in the notion of “innocent until proven guilty,” I completely understand why EA would drop Kane before the results of the investigation. EA is a business, and any business would do well to avoid PR disasters.

This leaves Kane’s teammate, Blackhawks Captain Jonathan Toews as the sole cover star for the game.  The WWE has recently done a similar thing, erasing the existence of Hulk Hogan from its website following racist outburst from the aging wrestler.

Last Updated: August 13, 2015

7 Comments

  1. Alien Emperor Trevor

    August 13, 2015 at 12:09

    Yip, the last thing they want is for the allegations to be proven true & then have to recall the game because of the cover.

    Reply

  2. Hammersteyn

    August 13, 2015 at 12:24

    Too bad the didn’t avoid PR disasters like :
    Mass Effect 3 Day 1 DLC and Ending Debacle
    Simcity DRM disaster
    Shameless Dungeon Keeper mobile game
    BF4 Server issues
    Killing Dead Space
    RIP Command and Conquer series and countless other that we grew up with.

    But at least Battlefront 3,NFS and Garden Warfare 2 is coming…
    http://i.memeful.com/media/post/0MxGVwL_700w_0.jpg

    Reply

    • Dutch Matrix

      August 13, 2015 at 13:09

      Dude! Rise above it and move on! Shit. You sound like an old lady with a wet pantaloon!

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        August 13, 2015 at 13:12

        NEVAFORGET!

        Reply

        • Dutch Matrix

          August 13, 2015 at 13:17

          Ugh no. Why complain so much?

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            August 13, 2015 at 14:24

            Because they’re the devil

  3. Skyblue

    August 13, 2015 at 22:25

    Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews sure plays for keeps when it comes to sponsorship cash – I kid, I kid

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also

FIFA and EA Split? How Did it Happen and What Now for the Future of the Franchise?

In life, there are many staples, peanut butter and jam, bread and a toaster, and in gaming…