Tripwire Interactive CEO John Gibson Steps Down Amid Controversial Statements About Texas Abortion Law

The CEO for Tripwire Interactive, John Gibson, stepped down today just three days after his controversial comments in support of the contentious Texas abortion law, which went into effect on September 1st.

The comments made by Gibson were in support of the pro-life movement and being proud of the U.S. Supreme Court for upholding the validity of the law.

Proud of #USSupremeCourt affirming the Texas law banning abortion for babies with a heartbeat. As an entertainer I don’t get political often. Yet with so many vocal peers on the other side of this issue, I felt it was important to go on the record as a pro-life game developer.

— John Gibson (@RammJaeger) September 4, 2021

BREAKING NEWS: The Women's March announces that it will hold a massive nationwide protest in ALL 50 STATES on October 2nd to oppose Texas’ extremist anti-abortion law. RT TO RAISE AWARENESS AND SHOW THEM YOUR SUPPORT!

— Occupy Democrats (@OccupyDemocrats) September 4, 2021

Portland to cut trade, travel with Texas amid abortion law outrage https://t.co/UGq5br72wj pic.twitter.com/wk1YfYd0Vv

— New York Post (@nypost) September 7, 2021

There were many online who were upset with Gibson's post and viewpoint, as well as his wording. The calls for action against him quickly started up on Twitter in recent days, where people started to list the games the studio is known for, as well as organize boycotts against the products. Hypocrisy was also called out by people as it became ironic to them that the CEO of a company that makes "violent video games" would say he is pro-life.

President of Tripwire, the studio that brought you Killing Floor, Killing Floor 2 and Killing Floor: Incursion, feels it's important to let you know he's pro-life. https://t.co/ltRNC3QcDW pic.twitter.com/ilwzn3eJz2

— 🏴‍☠️ Maddox 🏴‍☠️ (@maddoxrules) September 5, 2021

You want to know how to sink an entire game development studio in one tweet? Be this guy from #tripwire https://t.co/zvTNNYwrvE

— Rokk! (@rokk_V) September 6, 2021

The developers at tripwire studio seeing their president possibly fuck up their livelihood. https://t.co/EN86rylwjj pic.twitter.com/1DOVChl6ph

— BrokenGamezHDR (@BrokenGamezHDR_) September 5, 2021

Though there were many who were against the studio and were setting up demonstrations or otherwise distancing themselves from the company, a few memes were made depicting the act as silly. The calls to separate the medium from the artist were few in number, but there to a lesser degree. It was also noted that Gibson stepping down as CEO does not remove him from the company, and he still profits off the products released.

I'm going to stop supporting Tripwire Interactive, studio known for Killing Floor, Red Orchestra 2, and Maneater because it's president John Gibson has different political and prolife/prochoice views from me. pic.twitter.com/6a17RELD5D

— Zero C Circ (@Zero_C_Circ) September 6, 2021

they’re literally admitting that they’re only cutting ties so it doesn’t hurt their public image (implying they might have already known about his views before this) and all the idiots in the replies are still talking about how badass of an ally shipwright studios is lol https://t.co/ewdXiM70of

— adoring fag (@steembath) September 6, 2021

This is functionally meaningless if Gibson still owns the company, and thus is the primary beneficiary of its financial success. Don't give them a penny. https://t.co/xrKxjjWRrG

— Anton "Doors & Corners" Hand (@AntonHand) September 7, 2021