If you're wondering where Nickmercs' Call of Duty skin is, you're not alone. Earlier this week, Call of Duty fans noticed that the skin based on the likeness of the prominent stream and FaZe Clan co-owner is no longer available in Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone. This was initially believed to have been caused by the player's controversial remarks. Activision Blizzard confirmed this in a later tweet.
The incident began when Nickmercs responded to a tweet from esports commentator Chris Puckett who was reflecting on an altercation between LGBTQ+ activists and anti-LGBTQ+ hate groups at a school board meeting in California. The school board had convened to vote on recognizing June as Pride Month. Puckett's tweet called for understanding and acceptance, urging people to "let people love who they love and live your own life".
Nickmercs' controversial response to Puckett's tweet was, "They should leave little children alone. That's the real issue." This might seem innocent on the surface, but this is a rhetoric often employed by homophobes, equating LGBTQ+ acceptance or acknowledgment with a supposed threat to children.
Nickmercs' point of view was criticized for misrepresenting the LGBTQ+ community's intent and contributing to a harmful narrative that targets this community.