These 7 Geek Icons Have Had Enough of #Gamergate. Here’s How They’re Fighting Back.

“A cliched bloodthirsty roaming gang from post-apocalyptic fiction seems to be ruling gaming fandom right now.”

Seth Rogen is dead to Gamergate supporters.<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/8611679596/in/photolist-e7Z7jq-9qemcf-9qbjQc-9qbhn6-6aAstc-9qekPC-9qbhD2-9qbiXK-2DkAEb-9qekx3-7HCQ7J-9qen7A-8r3v4F-8sAoXp-e7TtV2-8r3v1z-58FUVN-5j68wC-5j5YMd-9qbjLg-9qeiZC-5j1QBv-kU1ynB-9qbjR8-9qbioF-9qbitn-e7TuNB-7m1HNa-e7TqNt-7kzisQ-7mux64-7muwHx-amNh7g-5j1FCt-9qbiJX-5j68yY-5hUA4G-841tio-5j5YEJ-5j5YWJ-7m1HGp-6aAsMe-6aAtR4-7mux1c-caGjv1-7muwWF-5txsu5-7myr2h-7myrdG-5MKS97">Gage Skidmore</a>/Flickr

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.


As the conflict known as #Gamergate continues roiling the internet, some #Gamergaters have been surprised to find that their geek idols aren’t exactly on their side. Take, for example, science fiction author William Gibson, coiner of the term “cyberspace,” who retweeted this on Tuesday:

“Fuck. Fuck. Fucking hell,” an 8chan user wrote on the site’s GamerGate message board after reading through Gibson’s Twitter feed. “I have been waiting for his new book forever but now I dont even want to buy it…I feel devastated.”

Dozens of irate gamers responded with the names of other fallen heroes who’ve “betrayed” them by criticizing macho video game culture. Here’s a sampling of the offending tweets:

From screenwriter and director Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Avengers):

From comedian Patton Oswalt:

From actor and filmmaker Seth Rogen (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up):

(Adam Baldwin has been one of #Gamergate’s most outspoken supporters.)

From actress Felicia Day (The Guild):

From computer game designer Tim Schafer (LucasArts, Double Fine Productions):

From animator Mariel Cartwright (Skullgirls):

Lamented another 8chan user, with no apparent irony: “Unfortunately even misinformed people can put out their opinion on whatever they want, and they’ve got a large platform to do it with via the internet.”

Keep us relentless, independent, and free to read.

For 50 years, Mother Jones has offered honest, investigative reporting you can rely on:

    • Relentless in the pursuit of truth, unafraid to hold the powerful to account

    • Independent from influence or agenda from oligarchs and corporations

    • Freely accessible to every reader, never behind a paywall

But we can’t do any of this without you. Reader support powers our newsroom to stay nimble and fearless, ready for whatever story comes next. If you can, make a donation today.

Keep us relentless, independent, and free to read.

For 50 years, Mother Jones has offered honest, investigative reporting you can rely on:

    • Relentless in the pursuit of truth, unafraid to hold the powerful to account

    • Independent from influence or agenda from oligarchs and corporations

    • Freely accessible to every reader, never behind a paywall

But we can’t do any of this without you. Reader support powers our newsroom to stay nimble and fearless, ready for whatever story comes next. If you can, make a donation today.

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

INDEPENDENT. BECAUSE OF YOU.

Mother Jones has no billionaires calling the shots—just readers like you making fearless reporting possible

Donate