Blizzard continues to investigate its games for inappropriate references: This time it affects the NPC “Gorge the Corpsegrinder” in WoW. The Orc is based on the musician George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher, frontman of the band “Cannibal Corpse.” In an interview in 2007, he said he passionately plays World of Warcraft, but he considers the Alliance a bunch of “emo faggots.”
Which NPC is it about? The NPC “Gorge the Corpsegrinder” (German: Gortsch der Leichenmalmer) is an NPC in Garrosh’s Landing, an area from the 2008 expansion “Wrath of the Lich King.”
The NPC is a clear reference to the musician George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher.
This is the change: As reported by Wowhead, the character will be renamed with the WoW Patch 9.1.5. From now on, he will be called “Annihilator Grek’lor.”
Musician loves WoW, hates the Alliance
Why is Blizzard renaming him? The musician gave an interview in 2007 (via youtube). There he emphasizes his love for WoW, saying he has 4 accounts with 7 characters at the then max level 70, takes his laptop on tour, and always plays. He doesn’t just play WoW, it is his “damn life.”
But then the interview derailed:
I don’t play damn Alliance. I don’t play fucking Night Elves and Gnomes. There are only damn Orcs and Undead! Screw the Alliance! Die, you damn emo faggots.
George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher
Apparently, Blizzard originally named the NPC after the musician because they were aware of his passion for WoW. However, they have now decided to remove the reference from WoW, as it is no longer considered acceptable in 2021.
The background for the change is a sexism lawsuit that Blizzard faced. Subsequently, employees announced that they would examine games for references that no longer align with Blizzard’s values.
This makes the change spicy: In 2011, there was already an uproar over exactly this video: During BlizzCon 2011, Blizzard played a heavily censored version of the interview (via youtube).
Afterward, so many people complained about the inappropriate interview that the head of Blizzard, Mike Morhaime, had to apologize for playing the video during a concert of the Blizzard band, Level 90 Elite Tauren Chieftain. That was insensitive and shortsighted.
However, Morhaime’s apology had no impact on the game at the time: The NPC remained unchanged in WoW for more than a decade. That has now come to an end.
There have been some changes to WoW:
After sexism scandal: WoW replaces half-naked woman with fruit
