[GameSpot] - Call Of Duty Removes Nickmercs DLC Over Anti-LGBTQ Tweet

[343iBot]

It looks like Activision officially severed ties with Nickmercs, one of Call of Duty's most prominent content creators. The company removed the operator bundle named after him from the Modern Warfare II and Warzone store after he made an anti-LGBTQ comment in response to a tweet about Pride Month protests.

Chris Puckett, one of esports' most popular commentators, tweeted about the sad state of the country in response to news about anti-LGBTQ protestors attacking Pride supporters outside of a schoolboard meeting in Glendale, CA. The schoolboard was voting on recognizing June as Pride Month, which apparently some locals didn't agree with.

They should leave little children alone. That’s the real issue.

— FaZe Nickmercs (@NICKMERCS) June 7, 2023

"They should leave little children alone. That’s the real issue," Nickmercs commented on Puckett's post, spreading an erroneous talking point that LGBTQ people prey on children in pedophilic or otherwise predatory ways.

Nick posted the comment at around on June 7. The next day, CharlieIntel pointed out that the Nickmercs Operator bundle disappeared from the Modern Warfare II and Warzone stores without any explanation. The official Call of Duty account responded to clear up any confusion.

"Due to recent events, we have removed the 'Nickmercs Operator' bundle from the Modern Warfare II and Warzone store. We are focused on celebrating Pride with our employees and our community," the company commented.

Due to recent events, we have removed the 'NICKMERCS Operator' bundle from the Modern Warfare II and Warzone store. We are focused on celebrating PRIDE with our employees and our community.

— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) June 9, 2023

Nickmercs didn't follow up on Twitter. However, PC Gamer reported that he denied having anti-LGBTQ beliefs on stream and said he wouldn't be apologizing for his comment.

Some of Nick's friends and fans uninstalled their Call of Duty games in protest, saying that they wouldn't play them again until Activision reinstated the Nickmercs bundle and apologized. Others pointed out the problematic views expressed in Nick's tweet and voiced their disappointment in him.

View the full article