Veteran LCS broadcaster Zirene surprises fans, leaves Riot Games

Olivia Richman Published 13/03/2019

Riot Games is losing another iconic caster.

It seemed like analyst Joshua “Jatt” Leesman had just announced his switch from broadcast to balance when Aidan “Zirene” Moon took to Twitter to declare his retirement from LCS shoutcasting.

“I have left to explore and pursue other opportunities,” Zirene said.

Zirene streaming and content creation as his new focus, though he added that he remains open to other opportunities should they come his way.

Five years of shouting

After five years of broadcasting for League of Legends, March 7 was Zirene’s final day. He has been with Riot Games since 2014, becoming a major part of the LCS broadcast in 2015.

Zirene is known for his deep love and vast knowledge of the game. He has said it’s hard for him to keep his analysis short sometimes, believing that there are moments in games that are often looked over and that fans could really learn from them.

He is also known as the Salt Lord, and a salt shaker and photograph of salt were often seen at his desk. This came after Zirene famously said, “It’s not salt, I’m just being real” after delivering some harsh criticism following a TSM match.

“I don’t consider myself a really salty person. But there are times when I want to have the salt affect me and just say, ‘Listen here! This is a serious issue!’ I’m incredibly passionate about these things and want to get my messages across to people,” Zirene said.

A career’s worth of inspiration

It’s still unclear why Zirene stepped down from his position, especially since it’s currently the middle of the 2019 Spring Split. It’s also unclear if he is pursuing over casting opportunities, but what is definitely clear is the impact Zirene had on the League of Legends community.

Zirene was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitus at the age of 14. The pain of the disease mixed with his depression caused Zirene to attempt suicide twice.

In an interview, Zirene said he had given up hope as a teenager. But he wanted to open up about these things because he acknowledged that many people don’t talk about such problems.

“I want people to know that I struggle with this, but I realize there’s more out there. You can get through it. This won’t define who you are,” Zirene said.

Olivia Richman

About Olivia Richman

Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.

View full profile