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High-Profile Streamer Nickmercs Loses Operator Skin in Call of Duty
High-profile streamer and Faze content creator Nickmercs has lost his branded Operator skin in Call of Duty after controversial comments he made on Twitter about the LGBTQ community. Activision, the publisher of the game, made the decision to remove Nickmercs’ Spartan-themed Operator skin from the store after recent events, citing their own celebration of Pride and not wanting to be associated with his comments through a top creator partnership. The skin has not been deleted from the collection of those who already purchased it, but it is no longer available for sale.
Comments by Nickmercs on Twitter
Nickmercs tweeted about an attack by an anti-LGBTQ group on a pro-LGBTQ group during Pride. In his tweet, which has been viewed 11.3 million times, he says leave little children alone. That’s the real issue. This was a reference to a common Republican talking point alleging that the LGBTQ community is “grooming” children by educating them about the existence of sexual and gender identity.
Activision’s Decision to Remove the Operator Skin
Activision’s decision to remove Nickmercs’ Operator skin from the store has resulted in a massive firestorm in the Call of Duty community. While previously a big debate in the community was about whether Nickmercs deserved his own skin in the first place, now there are very vocal contingents who believe that Activision did the wrong thing here. On the other hand, Activision is being praised by LGBTQ supporters for the move, which they view as a big win and a declarative statement of allyship from one of the largest gaming publishers and franchises.
Debates About Freedom of Speech and LGBTQ Support
There are debates about freedom of speech, though Activision is a private company and can take unilateral action independent of the First Amendment, which only refers to the government. The issue has brought other higher-profile creators into the mix, and now everyone who comments on the issues either way is subject to the sort of intense debate we’re seeing played out on the political stage daily, with the gaming community grappling with the same issues. Overwhelmingly, gaming publishers and developers have embraced Pride celebrations and public LGBTQ support, the last few years especially, so Activision’s move is not especially surprising. But it was always going to be controversial.
Conclusion
Activision’s decision to remove Nickmercs’ Operator skin has sparked intense debate in the Call of Duty community. While opinions about the move differ, this situation raises important issues about freedom of speech, LGBTQ inclusion and support in the gaming industry.
FAQ
What did Nickmercs say on Twitter?
Nickmercs tweeted about an attack by an anti-LGBTQ group on a pro-LGBTQ group during Pride. In his tweet, he said leave little children alone. That’s the real issue.
Why did Activision remove Nickmercs’ Operator skin?
Activision removed Nickmercs’ Spartan-themed Operator skin from the store after recent events, citing their own celebration of Pride and not wanting to be associated with his comments through a top creator partnership.
Is freedom of speech being violated by Activision’s decision?
No, Activision is a private company and can take unilateral action independent of the First Amendment, which only refers to the government.
Why is Activision’s decision controversial?
While previously a big debate in the Call of Duty community was about whether Nickmercs deserved his own skin in the first place, now there are very vocal contingents who believe that Activision did the wrong thing here. On the other hand, Activision is being praised by LGBTQ supporters for the move, which they view as a big win and a declarative statement of allyship from one of the largest gaming publishers and franchises.
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