Activision has removed the Nickmercs Call of Duty skin following anti-LGBTQIA+ comments

FaZe Clan co-owner and streamer Nicholas ‘Nickmercs’ Kolcheff has had his Call of Duty Operator skin removed following a backlash to recent anti-LGBTQIA+ comments.

Earlier this week, broadcaster Chris Puckett tweeted a video of an attack on Pride supporters by anti-LGBTQIA+ demonstrators.

“Americans are in a sad place right now,” he wrote. “Let people love who they love and live your own life.”

In response, Nickmercs wrote: “They should leave little children alone. That’s the real issue.”

They should leave little children alone. That’s the real issue.

— FaZe Nickmercs (@NICKMERCS) June 7, 2023

Following a backlash to his comment, Activision has pulled the Nickmercs Call of Duty Operator skin that was introduced with the Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 Season 3 Reloaded update last month.

“Due to recent events, we have removed the “NICKMERCS Operator” bundle from the Modern Warfare II and Warzone store,” the company said. “We are focused on celebrating PRIDE with our employees and our community.”

While his comment has been widely criticised, Kolcheff later claimed (via Dextero) that “it wasn’t an anti-gay tweet”.

He said he wouldn’t apologise for it and that he stood by his belief that children shouldn’t be taught about the LGBTQIA+ community in schools.