Blizzard's BlizzCon Apology [Oct 28, 2011, 10:41 am ET] – Share – Viewing Comments
GayGamer has more follow-up on yesterday's news of outcry over anti-gay slurs during the closing performance at BlizzCon 2011. They recieved an apology from Mike Morhaime, the president of Blizzard who is also apparently a member of Level 90 Elite Tauren Chieftain, the band that performed at the closing. Here's word:
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
Beamer wrote on Oct 28, 2011, 17:50:I'm not quite sure who you're responding to but I think that's missing the point. This is about a gay rights group going out of its way to find offence where there wasn't any. The original video was satirical and the video shown at the event censored out any reference to that. This was just an opportunity to hijack a high profile event to promote their agenda. And yes, I do think people need to stop taking offence to everything. There was never ANY intent on Blizzard's part to cause offence. This is bullshit political correctness gone made.
I don't get how you guys think "not offending your fellow man" is "robot thought police."
Some of you are giant dickheads. No real getting around it. If you can not make someone feel that the way they were born is a bad thing by just not using a word, why wouldn't you? And if you're a company, why would you feature someone using that word?
It's not about being a bleeding heart, or censoring thought, it's about not being such a callous jerk that you tell someone something they cannot help that is not wrong is, in fact, wrong.
There's plenty of bigotry about. Heck, I have a unicycle and when I ride it - along with all the praise and funny comments - I get people shouting out of vehicles comments like "get a bike you queer"; I've even had people try to push me over. And sometimes I wear unconventional clothes and I get similar insults. But you can't take offence to insults like that. Sure I'd knock them out if they did anything physical against me but in the end I just feel sad for these people, people that have nothing better to do than to make other people feel worse. It's the same with race. Minorities cannot hope to win by fighting their way to equality; you have to change the preconceptions of people, you have to prove you're better than the people insulting you.
I don't start fights when people yell insults at me. If you do you only make it worse. I'm sure it is difficult when your skin colour is a reason for people to insult you but you can't give bullies the satisfaction of seeing you upset.
"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."
Date
Subject
Author
Copyright © 1996-2025 Stephen Heaslip. All rights reserved.
All trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
Privacy Policy. Manage Cookie Settings.
News CGI copyright © 1999-2025 James "furn" Furness & Blue's News. All rights reserved.
Chatbear v1.5.0/blue++: Page generated 17 June 2025, 13:12.