NICKMERCS Controversy: Backlash and Support After Pride Month Tweet

NICKMERCS, a popular Twitch streamer known for playing shooter games like Call of Duty, recently sparked a storm of controversy with a tweet he made about Pride Month. In response to a tweet about a Pride Month event at a school that led to a brawl and arrests, NICKMERCS commented that children should be left out of it, which ignited a backlash from the gaming community.

Critics accused him of being a "bigot" and labelled his tweet as "anti-LGBTQ," arguing that teaching children about sexuality is important and not equivalent to grooming. However, there were also supporters who pointed out that NICKMERCS recently became a parent and believed that parents should have the discretion to discuss these matters with their children instead of relying solely on teachers.

NICKMERCS addressed the ensuing controversy from his tweet the day after, claiming that it was never his goal to hurt anyone, and yet his words caused pain. He chose not to express his remorse and instead defended his statement, stating that it was not targeted at the LGBTQ+ community and that he does not hate anybody based on their sexuality. Despite this, his words still managed to cause harm.
 

While NICKMERCS did apologize to esports caster Puckett, whose tweet he had initially replied to, he stood by his original statement. Soon after his response, players noticed that his operator bundle was removed from Call of Duty. Activision confirmed the removal, citing "recent events" and their focus on celebrating Pride with their community and employees. Players who already owned the skin could still use it.

The removal of NICKMERCS' operator bundle prompted mixed reactions. Some CoD players threatened to uninstall the game or stop playing in protest, while others supported Activision's decision. The day after his operator was removed, NICKMERCS released a statement on Twitter, expressing gratitude to those who supported him during the controversy. Although he didn't address the situation directly, he appreciated the loyalty of his followers.

In a show of solidarity, TimTheTatman requested that his skin be removed from the game as well. Call of Duty complied, and both operator bundles are no longer available in the store. Amid the controversy, NICKMERCS gained around 50,000 new Twitter followers, indicating that the attention garnered him new fans and piqued his curiosity.

It is still up in the air whether NICKMERCS' operator skin will make its reappearance in the game. His last broadcast was on June 9, after which he hasn't streamed yet. On the contrary, he posted a Father's Day message on Instagram on the 19th of June, hinting at his resumption of streaming. Consequently, there are a lot of speculations about him returning, yet also simultaneously ignoring the past events. All in all, everyone is left wondering what he has in store for his comeback.