Blizzard's Morhaime apologises for homophobic video
Blizzcon World Of Warcraft video featured offensive comments from Cannibal Corpse singer
Blizzard Entertainment president Mike Morhaime has apologised after a World Of Warcraft video containing homophobic comments was screened at the recent Blizzcon event.
"As president of Blizzard, I take full responsibility for everything that occurs at Blizzcon," he wrote in a letter to GayGamer.
"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."
The video, which can be seen on YouTube, featured George Fisher of Cannibal Corpse talking about the game, and using a number of homophobic slurs. While those slurs were beeped out, but the fact that the speech was used at all offended many of Blizzard's forum users and LGBT advocacy group GLAAD.
"We realise 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 judgement, and we regret it," continued Morhaime.
"The bottom line is we deeply apologise 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."
George Fisher was performing at Blizzcon as part of the Blizzard rock group Level 90 Elite Tauren Chieftain, of which Morhaime is also a member. The video was screened before their performance.
"As a leader of Blizzard, and a member of the band, I truly hope you will accept my humblest apology."
The reactions to both the incident and the apology have flooded the games official forums, with some users, like Night Elf Druid Arilith, arguing it's not enough.
"While an official apology is appreciated, apologies are empty unless they are accompanied with an attempt at remediation. In this case, an effort to change the attitudes that considered that video acceptable. "