Yesterday, we reported on some unseemly, ungentlemanly remarks made in a video broadcast at Blizzcon 2011. Without re-hashing the whole schlemiel, basically, a musician at the show, "Corpsegrinder," showed off a video of himself ranting about the Alliance, and throwing in common slurs against homosexuals. Blizzard is very sorry this happened.
In a mea-culpa letter to blog Gay Gamer, Blizzard president Mike Morhaime took full responsibility for the video showing (and everything else at Blizzcon), and basically said he was very, very sorry. I've re-posted the entire letter under the "Read More" tag.
Dear members of the Blizzard community,
I have read your feedback and comments about this year's BlizzCon, and I have also read the feedback to the apology from Level 90 Elite Tauren Chieftain. I'd like to respond to some of your feedback here.
As president of Blizzard, I take full responsibility for everything that occurs at BlizzCon.
It was shortsighted and insensitive to use the video at all, even in censored form. The language used in the original version, including the slurs and use of sexual orientation as an insult, is not acceptable, period. We realize now that having even an edited version at the show was counter to the standards we try to maintain in our forums and in our games. Doing so was an error in judgment, and we regret it.
The bottom line is we deeply apologize for our mistakes and for hurting or offending anyone. We want you to have fun at our events, and we want everyone to feel welcome. We're proud to be part of a huge and diverse community, and I am proud that so many aspects of the community are represented within Blizzard itself.
As a leader of Blizzard, and a member of the band, I truly hope you will accept my humblest apology.
- Mike Morhaime President, Blizzard Entertainment
I don't want to get all preachy, but I love the gaming community. When some idiot says something publicly that any sentient person would be at least irked by, the community responds with, "Hey, this isn't right!" and then the head of a huge company personally responds with "I'm totally sorry. Won't happen again." If the rest of the world functioned as well as this, perhaps we could all live in peace, and only pretend to blow each others heads off with machine guns.
All of the best people are following Stephen Johnson's twitter feed. Also, email me if you wanna.
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zues666
You need a life, a girlfriend/boyfriend if you are calling a bunch of people on the opposite side of what you play homosexuals.
go outside and play some sports
DarkSausage
I know a few people that are attracted to the same sex, and they have all been really great individuals. I support same-sex marriage and I'm not homphobic but I just love using the word or bundle of sticks. I have nothing against homsexuals I just want to use the word and such, with somewhat of a negative connotation.
I bet some people might think this is wrong but that's just how I roll.
kyoput
The case was solved in a simple way. I agree. i wish things went more like this.
No one is denying free speech here. What was said was said. No one is getting in any trouble for it.
I get the people who sway, "Have a sense of humor". I am on that side as well, but I also understand good business practice.
If your community is offended by something, you apologize for it. End of story, everyone moves on. No one is trying to stop you from saying these words.
But, if you are a public person or company, prepare for blow back. Whether you ignore it or address it is up to you. Prepare for the consequences either way.
korn dawggg
Okay. I watched the unedited version of that video and this guy isn't anti-gay. Hes one of those stupid people who, after years of general gay-bashing in the media and the public, still cant tell whats hate speech directed at a group of people and whats just a general insult. Its terrible, but for the most part 'gay', when used as an insult, just means dumb. just like the f-word of the same meaning has changed from everything from old women to bundle of sticks.
All it is are people taking words that used to have a negative meaning in society and now (for the most part) forget the meaning only using it as an insult with no meaning other than to be hurtful.
theres alot to be said about other words given this treatment but there will always be hateful people using the words for their real meaning to hurt, and there are those dumb people who just use them as insults for the sake of insults. This video being an example of the latter.
Sorrior
I said it when the vid was posted and i'll say it again. Thicker skin. And before you start spouting some crap like i don't know what i'm saying i'm autistic have been mocked by my peers had teachers persecute me as a kid and MANY MANY other things. Alot of them i've heard can cause severe trauma for most. I know what i'm saying and i have NO problems with homosexuals or a persons race in fact i've never understood such thoughts. But people are becoming too sensitive i mean there is a difference between someone OBVIOUSLY making an offensive jokes and a person being a member of the LGBT's version of the KKK. This guy was a joker watch the vid from yesterday i can;t even take him seriously to be honest. So yeah Thicker skin people thicker skin. I also can;t help but feel that this was posted again more to get the sympathetic this is sick votes up since the last one seemed to have more people siding with the thicker skin crowd.
fluffzbunny
yea corpsegrinder fisher cannibal corpse all the way
vole182
This whole thing is really stupid.
The guy should have the right to say whatever he wants to say.
Just like if someone is gay they should have the right to say and do those things too.
Blizzard supports lovers and haters.
Why would anyone let this idiot offend them? He's an idiot spouting off like an idiot.
Words hurt, I get it... But you as a person get to decide if those words hurt you.
Why would anyone give this dude the power to offend them?
gambitjuggalo
so do we all now post our age, sexual orientation and our religious beliefs at the end of our posts. sometimes g4 commenters you make me lqtm (laugh quietly to myself... lets face it your not really laughing out loud like you say you are)
crabcakes_&_football
crabcakes_'s comment is abusive and has been removed.
sims796
Suprise suprise, you can get in trouble for saying the wrong thing.
What Blizzard did was wrong. Or what "Corpsegrinder" did, as the case were. They are public figures, and do NOT want to alienate their clientele. If this was a comedy club, then sure Not everything is a joke, and not everything can be summed up with "Stop being sensitive". Guess what - the people that say these things are most likely the ones who do not go through discrimination. That just reeks of immaturity, and I'd like to be seen as more than just a whiny opinionated high-schooler.
And yes, the First Ammendment Right gives us the ability to say what we want to whom we want. Contrary to popular beliefs, it does NOT protect you from the consequences. If Blizzard wants to alienate the gay community, they cannot get upset when it bites them in the ass, or if they get associated for hating. This is why people outside (as in, off of the internet) does not say racist, sexist, or discrimatory things out in public.
crabcakes_&_football
would it have been ok for these things to be said if everyone that worked at blizzard was gay? Too many rules, too soft skin, everyone needs to just grow a sense of humor, the only reason the ceo said he was sorry was to protect his company from offending possible consumers....lame all around....
lowkevmic
@FuzzofPekinopolis- To be teased for being fat is horrible. But the difference from being fat and being gay is that fat people can easily lose weight if they ate healthier and worked out. As for gay people, they are unable to lose their homosexuality through daily exercise. What you are asking is for people of the g.b.l.t community to just simply smile and look the other way when slurs are said in jest making them the butt of the joke. Which is in no way equality. It is no different then when racial jokes are made about blacks, hispanics, jews, or asians. To the one making the joke, it is harmless and fun. Even to those who may not be in the same group the joke is reffering to may see it as harmless and funny. But it will stike a different cord with the one the joke is making fun of.
All races, creeds, and sexual orientations have a sense of humor. But in order for equality to truly exist, a common level of respect and understanding of others must be there as well. Maybe then more thought would go into a joke, and how it may be received by others. No one said words should be taken out of the english language, but context of those words should always be considered.
28yr old, heterosexual secure with himself, Black atheist
Osoth_Tuskwell
This website keeps telling me my response has profanity in it somewhere...I know for a fact that it doesn't, but it won't let me post it anyway. Very frustrating. I urge you all to please read my response here:
http://pastebin.com/YRM4SDZ0
For some much needed common sense in this whole Blizzard debacle.
crocodilius
TBH i'm surprised Mike Morhaime let this go on.
If you've ever seen him he's a pretty awesome guy
and it seems like someone went over his head.
FuzzofPekinopolis
I don't understand any of this garbage. If the Homosexual community wants to be treated like everyone else, why do they cause an uproar every time someone says something they don't agree with. Equality for all has to work in all directions. I agree that people cross a line of common morality sometimes. But I was teased for being fat when I was young. Should I then be protesting anytime someone talks about fat people.
You are not going to change a language overnight. And with all due respect, I don't think anyone has a right to. Stop thinking that every time something catches your ear it is a personal attack aimed at your soul. Act like a human and to hell with what defines us individually. If we could all do that it would be a wonderful world. I don't care what you define your sexuality as. It is your personality that truly makes you who you are.
29yr. old, straight as an arrow, white christian guy
Slymoose
It makes me sick how weak minded people are. THEY ARE WORDS PEOPLE. Grow the hell up.
CareyGrant
I'm always perplexed when companies make huge PR blunders like this; hindsight being 20-20, but... Where was their common sense or senes of decency when they chose to air this knucklehead's video at a major gaming event? Really? It only seems like a bad idea after the internet makes a fuss about your incredible stupidity that airing that video was a bad idea?
Wow, Blizzard. It's a good thing you're hog-nasty rich, otherwise you might have to use your heads for something other than counting the zeros in your monthly WOW bonus check (part of which is, ironically, paid for by the same homosexual and femme gamers who pay your monthly subscription fees).
Stay Classy, Blizzard.
Geriden
Some of the replies to the apology on the american forums give me a homophobic vibe which i wasnt expecting.
camaro72toy
Isn't CorpseGrinder the vocalist for a band called Cannibal Corpse?
business_casual_gamer
I think gay people can take a joke. Unfortunately, it is not much of a joke when you equate homosexuality (even if you didn't "mean" to) with the effete nature of an Elf or something. That just eventually makes it a commonplace to devalue homosexuals masculinity (of femininity for that matter) and treat them as undesirable people to be friends with. I bet this guy just doesn't have a lot of close friends so, probably no close gay friends. Otherwise, I think he would have been more careful with his words. Glad Blizzard took responsibility though because they should.
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