The NICKMERCS CoD skin controversy is a unique event that sparked a significant debate within the gaming community. The renowned streamer NICKMERCS was one of the pioneers to have a personalized playable operator skin in Call of Duty. Released as a premium bundle on May 31, it comprised two skins, blueprints, an emblem, a finishing move, a loading screen, a weapon charm, and a sticker, all bound by a red and black MFAM-branded theme. However, a little over a week later, Activision withdrew it following a contentious tweet from the star streamer, leading to a whirlwind of reactions on Twitter.
Why did Activision remove NICKMERCS’ CoD skin?
The controversy ignited when Chris Puckett, an esports host, tweeted about an anti-LGBTQ+ protest incident in California. He called for acceptance and love, to which NICKMERCS responded with a remark that many interpreted as a common right-wing conspiracy theory. The backlash was swift, with fans, streamers, and esports pros alike denouncing NICKMERCS’s comment as potentially harmful.
The timeline of the controversy unfolds as follows:
- June 7: NICKMERCS posts the controversial tweet, leading to widespread backlash.
- June 8: NICKMERCS addresses the backlash during his stream, insisting his comment was not anti-gay, but rather a call for parental discretion in children’s education.
- June 8: Activision removes NICKMERCS’s creator bundle from CoD stores due to “recent events,” focusing on celebrating PRIDE with their community.
- June 9: Popular streamers such as Dr. Disrespect and Cloakzy boycott Warzone in support of NICKMERCS.
- June 10: TimTheTatman, another popular streamer and friend of NICKMERCS, requests Activision to remove his creator bundle out of solidarity, stirring mixed reactions from the community.
- June 11: Activision grants TimTheTatman’s request and removes his bundle from the stores, but retains access for those who have already purchased them1.
- June 19: NICKMERCS streams for the first time in almost two weeks, standing by his original tweet and gaining 11,000 new subscribers in the process, though his CoD bundle remains unavailable.
- June 19: In the wake of other streamers supporting NICKMERCS, streamer HasanAbi criticizes Dr. Disrespect for his support, leading to NICKMERCS declaring HasanAbi “dead to him”.
The controversy provides a striking example of the complex interplay between gaming, social issues, and the impact of influential personalities in the online world. With the stakes high and opinions polarized, the gaming community continues to engage in this ongoing debate. As the dust settles, the question remains: Will NICKMERCS’s CoD bundle be reinstated, or is this the end of a unique chapter in Call of Duty history? Only time will tell.
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