The Nickmercs operator skin has been removed from the Modern Warfare 2 and Call of Duty: Warzone shop due to Nickmercs making homophobic comments. ”Though Nickmercs’ comments might seem innocuous, he is actually repeating a right-wing, homophobic talking point that erroneously and dangerously equates any kind of LGBTQ+ acceptance or acknowledgment as an existential threat to children. Homophobes, as a part of a reactionary backlash to the greater visibility of queer and trans people, are returning to an age-old tactic by which they try to reframe any kind of queer expression as “grooming” children — making them vulnerable to “conversion” or sexual assault