The fallout from Activision Blizzard’s unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives took a dark turn this week when a Blizzard technical artist, Kyle Hickey, made an incendiary post on Facebook that appeared to call on his social media followers to commit violence against supporters of President Donald Trump.
Blizzard artist Kyle Hickey appears to call for violence against Trump supporters on social media – X Screenshot via @Grummz
On January 21, just one day after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Hickey wrote “Kill your local MAGA.”
That was the entire post. It contained no qualifiers, emojis, or humor that might suggest it was a joke or satirical statement. The stark and alarming message was liked by several of Hickey’s followers, including Max Davenport, the Associate Art Director at Gearbox Software.
“Kill your local MAGA”
Blizzard technical artist and Associate Art Director of Gearbox both wish death to 50% of America in a post and likes to their public Facebook.
This is the type of atmosphere that Activision President Rob Kostich is fostering as he doubles down on woke… pic.twitter.com/OH6KtgsAA6
— Grummz (@Grummz) January 27, 2025
The post came to public attention after being shared by Mark Kern, former World of Warcraft team lead and outspoken critic of DEI in the gaming industry. Known by his online moniker, Grummz, Kern posted the screenshot of Hickey’s statement on X the same day he had criticized Activision Blizzard President Rob Kostich for doubling down on DEI initiatives in a company-wide Slack message.
Kostich’s message, as reported yesterday, reaffirmed Activision Blizzard’s commitment to DEI, stating:
“To be clear, this work continues to be extremely important in everything that we do. It’s important to our games, our culture, and who we are as a company. Our Inclusive Growth team has made great strides in helping us weave inclusivity into all aspects of business. Our strategy here remains focused on enhancing the experiences of all employees, providing exceptional experiences to players globally, and providing accessible opportunities to those interacting with our company and brand. I look forward to all the great work we’ll continue to do together.”
Grummz did not mince words in connecting Hickey’s post to Activision Blizzard’s corporate environment.
“This is the type of atmosphere that Activision President Rob Kostich is fostering as he doubles down on woke DEI and ESG today,” he wrote. “HR turns a blind eye to open calls for violence and death at these studios. They’ve gotten away with this for years as they mistakenly thought they were protected and on the right side of history.”
A screenshot from Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2024), Treyarch
Following the backlash, Hickey appears to have deactivated all his social media accounts, including his Facebook and LinkedIn pages, and taken his personal art website offline. Neither Hickey nor Activision Blizzard have released a statement on the matter.
In response to Hickey’s post and what he describes as a “toxic” program at Activision Blizzard, Kern has called for a boycott of Call of Duty until the company takes decisive action.
It’s time to boycott Call of Duty until they remove DEI from Activision and their President repeals the toxic program.
You can’t have employees wishing death to MAGA and a President doubling down on DEI.
Americans deserve better games and game companies.
— Grummz (@Grummz) January 27, 2025
“It’s time to boycott Call of Duty until they remove DEI from Activision and their President repeals the toxic program,” Kern declared. “You can’t have employees wishing death to MAGA and a President doubling down on DEI. Americans deserve better games and game companies.”
Kern’s statement has already gained traction among gamers frustrated with Activision Blizzard’s policies and perceived political bias. This latest Blizzard artist controversy highlights growing concerns over the intersection of politics, corporate culture, and the gaming industry’s direction under DEI-focused initiatives.
A screenshot from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023), Sledgehammer Games
Hickey’s post is not the first time political tensions have surfaced within the gaming world. In recent years, game studios have faced accusations of fostering hostile work environments where dissenting viewpoints are stifled, and ideological conformity is enforced. Critics argue that DEI programs, like those championed by Activision Blizzard, exacerbate these issues by promoting divisive policies and creating an “us vs. them” mentality within workplaces.
The involvement of Max Davenport, Associate Art Director at Gearbox Software, adds another layer of complexity. While Davenport has not commented on his reaction to Hickey’s post, his apparent endorsement raises questions about how widespread such sentiments are within the gaming industry.
A screenshot from Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2024), Treyarch and Raven Software
The timing of this controversy could not be worse for Activision Blizzard. With President Trump’s administration signaling an end to DEI-related initiatives within federal agencies—an announcement that directly affects Activision Blizzard’s Call of Duty Endowment program with the Department of Defense—the company now faces scrutiny from both the government and its audience.
Will Activision Blizzard respond to the growing backlash against its outspoken artist? Or will they continue to double down on their DEI agenda? Will Kyle Hickey face any consequences for what appeared to be a public call to violence? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
