Vanessa Kade Abandons Role as Ambassador for ACR Over Sexism Concerns

Summary

• Kade announced on Twitter that she’s stepping down as ACR ambassador due to differences in values
• Kade revealed there are ongoing issues behind the scenes that made her make the tough decision
• ACR CEO Phil Nagy previously courted controversy when he made a sexist remark during a Twitch livestream

Vanessa Kade has officially stepped down as ambassador for Americas Cardroom (ACR).

In a move that surprised many in the poker world, Kade decided to terminate her sponsorship agreement with the US-facing online poker site due to what she said are “ongoing issues” happening behind the scenes.

Kade, a vocal advocate for women in poker, joined ACR in March 2021 shortly after GGPoker ended her residual affiliate account when she criticized the operator for signing Dan Bilzerian as its new brand ambassador.

Speaking out against Bilzerian’s signing, Kade accused GGPoker of being misogynistic, resulting in the termination of her affiliate partnership with the site.

Now, the Canadian poker pro is leaving ACR apparently for the same reason.

Phil Nagy’s Sexist Remarks

Kade’s departure from GGPoker seemed to be a blessing in disguise. Just days after becoming a sponsored pro with ACR, she went on to win PokerStars’ 15th Anniversary Sunday Million for $1.5 million.

Kade’s association with ACR would provide her the opportunity to take her career to the next level and promote her advocacy on a much bigger platform. But after just three months of joining the site, Kade was compelled to reconsider her position due to a controversial incident involving the site’s CEO.

Phil Nagy was caught on camera making sexist remarks to a female poker streamer during a live stream on Twitch. He later apologized and asked for forgiveness following the troubling incident and promised Kade that things would change.

Stepping Down as ACR Ambassador

The Twitch incident certainly left a negative impression on Kade and while she acknowledged that previous wrongdoings have been dealt with, not enough changes were made, prompting her to abandon her role as ambassador for the site.

In a lengthy post on Twitter, Kade explained her decision for ending her sponsorship deal with Americas Cardroom, saying she doesn’t belong with the site as they have different values.

I’ve made a difficult decision to step down from ACR. pic.twitter.com/VWL5HSY2Vk

— Vanessa Kade (@VanessaKade) February 9, 2022

She has since received strong support from the poker community, with many praising her for making the tough decision and upholding her values. ACR wished Kade all the best in her poker career and life.