PlayStation Boss Responds to Charlie Kirk Controversy Following Dev’s Firing
Topics: PlayStation, PlayStation 5, Sucker Punch, Ghost Of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei
Featured Image Credit: SIE
Topics: PlayStation, PlayStation 5, Sucker Punch, Ghost Of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei
In the wake of the killing of Charlie Kirk, one Sucker Punch employee posted a joke related to the shooting and was fired from their role in the company, now the studio boss has commented on the situation.
With the studio’s next big game, Ghost of Yotei, on the horizon, it’s likely they didn’t see the anticipated release being overshadowed by political commentary.
However, following the public killing of Charlie Kirk, Sucker Punch artist Drew Harrison made a joking comment on social media, and within 24 hours was fired from the studio.
Since then, the head of Sucker Punch, Brian Fleming, has commented on the situation, explaining further and outlining the decision to fire Harrison.
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Harrison had posted a joke about the killing, saying, “I hope the shooter’s name is Mario so that Luigi knows his bro got his back,” and was swiftly removed from the role they’d worked for over 10 years.
This came after major pushback from members of the public as well as internet figures who pushed for punishment for Harrison from the PlayStation owned studio.
Fleming spoke to Game File, where he said, “The facts are accurate. Drew’s no longer an employee here.”
The firing was made public soon after the comments were made on social media, and Fleming goes on to discuss the reasoning behind the decision.
“I think we’re aligned as a studio that celebrating or making light of someone’s murder is a deal-breaker for us, and we condemn that, kind of in no uncertain terms,” said the studio co-founder.
Many in the public eye have condemned the killer of Kirk, with plenty of people saying that violence was not the answer here.
Fleming ended his comments summarising the issue, and reiterated that Sucker Punch isn’t home to those making light of murder, saying, “That’s sort of our studio, and that’s kind of where we are.”