Former lawyer for Bungie and The Pokémon Company as well as the producer on Detective Pikachu Don McGowan defended Sweet Baby Inc. and admitted his job was to get “rid” of gamers complaining about agenda.
Detective Pikachu in Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019), Warner Bros. Pictures
McGowan made his comments using the X handle legalminimum, but previously identified himself back in September 2022 writing, ” My real name is trivially easy to locate but just so it’s clear: I am Don McGowan. I spent 12 years as the Chief Legal Officer of Pokémon and am now the General Counsel of Bungie.”
Don McGowan on X
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McGowan responded to a thread by Kotaku journalist Alyssa Mercante that claims that Sweet Baby Inc. as well as herself are being harassed. Of note, Mercante does not share that Sweet Baby Inc. employees Chris Kindred and Maya Kramer as well as CEO Kim Belair have launched multiple cancel campaigns against a Steam Curator list and its creator Brazilian gamer KabrutusRambo. She also makes no mention of the racist actions of past Sweet Baby Inc. employees or past racist comments made by Kim Belair.
Mercante initially wrote, “If you aren’t sure this is a harassment campaign, just take a look at the content. Look at how many sock puppet accounts flock to comment on posts. Look at the language in those comments. Look at the images they’re sharing, the way they’re manipulating pictures of women.”
Alyssa Mercante on X
McGowan reacted to the thread with his own by accusing gamers of being the issue. He wrote, “Thread. 20 years in games, 17 in the C-suite, so I am well situated to say: these people blaming one consultancy for everything they don’t like are again demonstrating they know nothing about the subject they purport to be discussing.”
Don McGowan on X
Next, he made the absurd claim that video game developers at-large no longer want to make games for gamers. Not only did he make that claim, but he also revealed his entire career has been built around trying to get rid of gamers.
He wrote, “And it never occurs to them that the reason nobody made games “for them” was because nobody wanted to make those kinds of games. Nobody wants your money because no one wants you in their environment. Take it from someone most of whose job was figuring out ways to get rid of you.”
“Trust and Safety departments exist to get a**holes out of the gaming environment,” he continued. “You end up creating them to get rid of a**holes, because adult humans don’t want to spend their leisure time with assholes. You’re a GamerGater? F*** off, you g**damn child.”
“Nobody wants your money.” he directed.
Don McGowan on X
McGowan then took a shot at Former World of Warcraft Team Lead Mark Kern via X user Rami Ismail. Ismail is a Muslim activist and co-founder of Vlambeer that has produced the mobile game Ridiculous Fishing, Luftrausers, and Nuclear Throne.
Ismail wrote, “So the Gamergate ex-dev grifter is back claiming shit about forced diversity leading to funding and let me tell you, not even once in my life have I worked on or with any title that had an easier timing getting funding because it was different, diverse, inclusive, or equitable.”
McGowan responded, “As always, Rami Ismail has nailed it.”
Don McGowan on X
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Next, he posted, “By the way, if you’re f***ing crying about the fact that I’m telling you to eat sh*t, think about why you’re such a person that the producer of Detective Pikachu thinks you are human garbage, and maybe work on being less s***ty.”
Don McGowan on X
He continued, “You complain about bubbles, but you’re living in the biggest one. You dorks sit around self-reinforcing that you’re somehow not human garbage. Get your moms to give you more allowance and buy a clue.”
“I have to say I’m almost impressed with the one person who quote-tweeted the original tweet and also screenshotted it in case I blocked him, so he could have forever proof that he is a dork and no one intelligent agrees with him,” he wrote.
“I mean, I still blocked him, because dork,” he added.
Don McGowan on X
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Next, McGowan shared an interview he did with Aftermath where he explained what he did at both Bungie and The Pokémon Company as a way of giving his opinion more authority.
After that he wrapped up his thread writing, “What’s the old rule about not showing tolerance to people who are themselves intolerant? That one. That’s what you see in this thread and my responses. No, I’m not interested in “debate”. No, I don’t care if you think I’m a ‘bully’. Get back in your f***ing lockers.”
“This thread is giving my block finger a good workout,” he added. ”
Finally, he concluded, “‘He doesn’t want to hear the truth’ uh, sure, dork. What you believe isn’t true. ‘What, people aren’t allowed to disagree?’ have at it, champ. I just don’t care about your opinion. Etc.”
A screenshot from Destiny 2 (2019), Bungie
What do you make of Don McGowan’s comments?
NEXT: Bungie Senior Narrative Designer Defends Sweet Baby Inc., Tells Gamers “You Need To Grow Up”
