Call of Duty and Activision have drawn the ire of one of YouTube’s biggest gaming stars, Dr Disrespect, for their decision to take action against streamer NICKMERCS.
Let’s rewind. On June 7, NICKMERCS, an avid Call of Duty player who represents FaZe Clan, tweeted a response to a video that featured a brawl outside the Glendale Unified School District building in Glendale, California. According to USA Today, hundreds of protestors gathered to either support or denounce a resolution that would see June as Pride Month for the district.
“They should leave little children alone,” NICKMERCS tweeted in response to the clip. “That’s the real issue.”
A day after the gamer’s tweet, the official Call of Duty Twitter account announced that the featured ‘NICKMERCS Operator’ bundle would no longer be available to purchase through its online stores. Included in the NICKMERC’s bundle are two different skins, two gun Blueprints, and the “Kickin’ It” finishing move. “Due to recent events, we have removed the ‘NICKMERCS Operator’ bundle from the Modern Warfare II and Warzone store,” the statement reads. “We are focused on celebrating PRIDE with our employees and our community.”
Well, Dr Disrespect isn’t a fan of the decision. The eccentric gaming star announced during a live stream on June 9 that he was boycotting the franchise’s current iteration — Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II.
“If you don’t know the news, yesterday, it just blew my mind… that Call of Duty, Activision, made the decision to pull NICKMERCS’s skin and bundle off the game for that,” Dr Disrespect said to his community. “You know champs, I mean just imagine. Nick is one of us. He’s one of us streamers, right? To get your own skin and bundle and that whole collaboration on the biggest shooter franchise out there. And be one of the first to do it in Call of Duty, that’s such a massive accomplishment, you know?”
“And he worked hard, years and years. He built [a] nice community. He’s a great representation of a streamer gaming, you know? And just like that, he made it, got it in there and they pulled it down. That’s a f****** tough one, man. That’s a tough one. For what again?
“What we gotta do is uninstall the game, No. 1,” he continued. “That decision by [Call of Duty’s] marketing team… that’s a tough one to digest for the two-time. I feel like they either need to apologize publicly to him or reinstate his bundle in order for me to consider playing Call of Duty again. That’s where I’m at.”
Dr Disrespect also called the game “the worst in its franchise.” That same day, NICKMERCS took to Twitter to respond to the controversy. “Friends are created in good times, but families are built through adversity,” NICKMERCS tweeted. “Appreciate all of you that have my back, understand my position as a new father & recognize the love I have for all. Ain’t no hate in this heart. P&L (handshake emoji).”