Ghost of Yotei developer, Sucker Punch, recently found itself in a major controversy after a veteran artist named Drew Harrison was fired by the studio. In a social media post, Harrison had made a joke about the assassination of Charlie Kirk on the day it happened. So, why did a single online quip lead to such a drastic outcome?
Ghost of Yotei‘s PR Nightmare
The Ghost of Yotei studio was targeted by an online harassment campaign that demanded Harrison’s termination. Furthermore, reactionary figures directed their followers to boycott the upcoming game. Consequently, the studio’s employees were reportedly told to unplug their desk phones after being bombarded with so many anonymous calls. In response to the backlash, the developer discussed the situation in an office chat the very next day.
What’s more, she even offered banana muffins as a humorous apology. Sadly, this gesture didn’t do much to calm the storm. That said, how much influence should an online mob have over a person’s career? Studio leadership sent a message to the entire company, stating that a team member’s social media post was creating a significant situation. Specifically, it delayed the release of a trailer. Shortly afterward, Harrison was contacted by a Sony HR representative for an unscheduled call and was immediately fired for allegedly inciting violence.
When Personal and Professional Lives Collide
Furthermore, the Ghost of Yotei developer later revealed that she was never asked by anyone to delete the post or to issue a formal apology, both of which she would have done. She felt that she and her coworkers weren’t protected from the harassment they received while the company investigated her actions. Given this entire ordeal, the dilemma about corporate responsibility must be addressed. Specifically, a company can either protect its employees from online mobs or quickly sacrifice them to protect a brand. According to a studio co-founder, celebrating a murder was a deal-breaker for the team.
However, he didn’t reach out to Harrison personally. Ultimately, the reactionary attacks and calls for a boycott had little impact on Ghost of Yotei, as it went on to sell millions of copies. So, what does this incident reveal about the precarious nature of online speech for employees in the gaming industry? It seems that a single, ill-advised joke made on a personal account is enough to bring an immediate professional termination without a clear internal process. For the industry itself, one question must be asked: Should online outrage continue to dictate its employment decisions?
