Former GGPoker ambassador joins Americas Cardroom after Dan Bilzerian sexism row
Canadian poker star Vanessa Kade clashed with Bilzerian over three-month period which culminated in her controversial dismissal from the company
Former GGPoker brand ambassador Vanessa Kade has joined Americas Cardroom after an acrimonious separation from the firm following a sexism storm.
Kade, who won $1,514,920 in the PokerStars Sunday Million 15th Anniversary yesterday after ousting a field of nearly 70,000 competitors, saw her relationship with GGPoker unravel from December 2020.
The controversy began when GGPoker appointed Instagram influencer Dan Bilzerian as a brand ambassador. The decision was met with criticism from some inside the online poker community due to the misogynistic nature of Bilzerian’s online profile.
The appointment of Bilzerian, a self-styled macho-man who likes to surround himself with guns, money and bikini-clad models, was derided by Kade on Twitter.
Kade said: “I dunno why this has disappointed me so much. I think because the site has clearly been all about trying to be the best version of itself, I think in my mind it was the future of poker in a lot of ways. Then [Bilzerian’s appointment] is just a huge step backwards.”
Bilzerian replied: “Quiet hoe, nobody knows who you are.”
Very good start to all the ambassadoring GG.
You hit this one out of the park. pic.twitter.com/RjmWuPQW9r
— Melissa Burr (@burrrrrberry) December 4, 2020
On 12 February, with both Bilzerian and Kade still representing the GGPoker brand, the operator announced a partnership with Fantastic Ladies in Poker (FLIP) to support the growth of the women’s poker community.
GGPoker also enlisted FLIP founder Daiva Byrne as the group’s outreach and community advocate.
At the time, Kade said: “Daiva is a wonderful representative for women but GGPoker is buying her good faith with the female community after hiring and keeping a massive misogynist who openly says women can’t play poker.
“They couldn’t have picked a better person, but without also firing Dan the message is still clear: they support bigotry as long it pads their bottom line and will just throw money at damage control as a token to shut us up. Give us more than lip service and get rid of him GG,” she added.
Davia is a wonderful representative for women but @GGPoker is buying her good faith with the female community after hiring and keeping a massive misogynist who openly says women can’t play poker.
Apparently this didn’t even merit an announcement on their own social media pages. https://t.co/JfX6eps6RW
— Vanessa Kade (@VanessaKade) February 11, 2021
The inclusive initiatives continued at GGPoker, with a dedicated International Women’s Day tournament announced on 4 March, with donations to be made to global women’s charities.
Kade again denounced the move on Twitter.
She said: “GGPoker’s International Women’s Day efforts are a little like a cigarette company donating to the Cancer Society. Have to fix what’s wrong and stop causing harm before these things are meaningful. Ceasing to sponsor misogynists would be the real worthwhile thing.”
.@GGPoker’s International Women’s Day efforts are a little like a cigarette company donating to the Cancer Society.
Have to fix what’s wrong and stop causing harm before these things are meaningful.
Ceasing to sponsor misogynists would be the real worthwhile thing for #IWD2021
— Vanessa Kade (@VanessaKade) March 6, 2021
On 9 March, a day after International Women’s Day, Kade was contacted by GGPoker informing her that her affiliate account had officially been closed, thus ending the pair’s relationship.
GGPoker said Kade’s allegations the group was misogynistic were “inaccurate and offensive”, with Kade arguing the appointment of a Bilzerian had left her “disappointed” in the company.
Well,@GGPoker finally responded to the Bilzerian mess, by terminating my residual affiliate account from way back (idgaf) – a day after International Women’s Day, and not acknowledging any wrongdoing or anything remotely close to an apology.
Seems about right. pic.twitter.com/f9TMKBoVrc
— Vanessa Kade (@VanessaKade) March 9, 2021
A few days later, on 12 March, GGPoker issued a statement on the matter, in which they distanced themselves from Bilzerian’s previous comments regarding Kade.
The statement read: “There are things we can do and those we cannot. We cannot control everything our ambassadors say on their personal social media. Yes, an ambassador of GGPoker made a derogatory remark in response to being attacked.
“No, we do not agree with that reaction or statement at all. And we are very sorry it was made. We have tried to move forward in positive ways since then. We will continue to do so,” the statement continued.
GGPoker Statement on Recent Issue: pic.twitter.com/kCR72dvNp3
— GGPoker (@GGPoker) March 12, 2021
Kade appeared to have the last word on the matter, replying to GGPoker’s statement with a passionate final flourish.
Describing GGPoker as a “soulless joke of a company”, she said: “Imagine thinking drawing attention to a long, well-documented history of misogyny is an attack. GG, you are complicit.”
On 18 March, Americas Cardroom announced Kade as the group’s latest brand ambassador where she will join up with recently appointed Chris Moneymaker.