MOVIE NEWS – Peacemaker Season 2 has dominated HBO Max viewership charts since its premiere, so it was no surprise when the DC character appeared in Fortnite as a purchasable item with a dance emote that fans rushed to grab. However, few expected Epic Games to pull the new emote from the game after it was labeled “offensive” for briefly resembling a swastika.

The “Peaceful Hips” emote, modeled after John Cena’s popular character, features a dance in which he swings his arms at right angles to his body. When visualized in full motion, the result forms an image reminiscent of the Nazi symbol — an especially sensitive issue given the latest episode’s subject matter. A statement shared on social media announced:

“We’re disabling the Peaceful Hips Emote in Fortnite as we inquire into our partner’s creative intentions for this collaboration. Assuming it’s not coming back, refunds will be issued in the next few days. Sorry, folks.”

The decision is rare on the massively popular platform, and the fact that Epic is offering refunds suggests the emote is unlikely to return in its current form.

‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Takes a Dark Turn

While some might argue that such reactions stem from hypersensitivity, it’s easy to see why the emote caused outrage — especially considering how the swastika is used in the series. In the show, Christopher Smith ends up in an alternate reality that’s far from ideal. Episode six reveals a white supremacist utopia where the U.S. flag’s stars are replaced by swastikas and Black people are hunted like animals.

Although such imagery serves James Gunn’s narrative in the mature-rated DCU series, it’s not the type of content Epic Games wants in a game primarily played by teens and children. For that reason — regardless of the original intent — the emote is unlikely to return in its current form after being immediately linked to Nazi imagery.

Source: MovieWeb