The Nickmercs Homophobic Tweet controversy began in June 2023 when streamer Nickmercs responded to a video of a clash between protesters over LGBTQ+ curriculum in schools with the comment, 'They should leave little children alone.' The tweet was widely condemned as harmful rhetoric toward the LGBTQ+ community, leading Activision to swiftly remove the Nickmercs Operator bundle from the Call of Duty store. The event triggered a massive divide in the gaming community, sparking discussions on corporate accountability and the 'Leave the Kids Alone' slogan. It gained further traction when fellow streamer TimtheTatman requested his own skin be removed in support of Nickmercs, solidifying the incident as a major cultural moment in digital creator history.