The streamer Nick “Nickmercs” Kolcheff has 6.7 million followers on Twitch and is considered a leading shooter streamer on Amazon’s platform. For a long time, he was on the rise, but in 2023 his career took a downturn: his skin bundle was removed from Call of Duty. This seems to have radically changed his views now.
This is what Nickmercs says: On June 11, a clip of Nickmercs went online while he was playing Elden Ring. He noticed a viewer discussing transgender people. Nickmercs read out the chat message “Nick, the transphobes are fighting against the trans” and added:
There are no transgender people. That is something you have created. So, have fun in your little dreamland, but this shit isn’t even real.
Let me explain this to you in simple terms, okay: Penis – guy. Vagina – girl. That’s it. Don’t come at me with that shit trans stuff, bro. Ridiculous!
In 2020, Twitch launched a initiative to give a voice to marginalized groups:
Streamer receives much support, but also criticism on Twitter/X
What are the reactions? The clip has received 16.1 million views and over 3,100 comments on Twitter/X.
In this context, the statement elicits strong reactions in both directions:
- Some label the statement a “win” for Nickmercs, who stands by his opinion even if he gets in trouble for it.
- Some also say that the opinion is completely fine, a biological truth – and only “snowflakes” would be bothered by such things.
- Others criticize Nickmercs harshly or mildly. One user tags YouTube streamers TimTheTatman and CouRage and asks them if they are really friends with the guy. YouTube is known for luring Twitch streamers away with a lot of money while valuing a “clean” image.
- Another accuses Nickmercs of violating the golden rule of not being hateful and allowing other people to live as they wish.
This is the context: Nickmercs was involved in a controversy in 2023, which caused him to lose his skin bundle in Call of Duty. At that time, he said that children should be left alone with LGBTQ topics in schools. He wanted to discuss these topics with his children – the state should stay out of it.
The actual tweet concerned a pro-LGBTQ demonstration in front of a school, which was about recognizing June as Pride Month.
Nickmercs wrote: “They should leave little kids alone. That’s the real problem.”
He later explained that he meant children should not be confronted with LGBTQ topics in schools.
The fact that he lost his skin for this was sharply criticized by some friendly influencers. That should not be a view for which one could be sanctioned , said DrDisrespect, for example.
Asmongold believes: The public has demonized Nickmercs and thereby radicalized him
This is Asmongold’s assessment: The streamer Asmongold now says: Through this “punishment,” the public has radicalized Nickmercs and now led him to these statements (via YouTube).
Asmongold says: “Nick wouldn’t normally say that. But because people demonized him for something that most parents see the same way, it has radicalized him and now here we are.”
The streamer xQc comments: “They turned an ally into an enemy because they placed outrage over reason.” This is something that happens more often. Asmongold agrees with this.
More about the incident at that time, where Nickmercs lost his skin bundle, can be read in our article from June 2023: Activision Blizzard cancels the most important Twitch streamer for CoD Warzone, removing his €20 skin from the shop – After tweet
