Washington Post's 'video game reporter' looks into gaming companies' support for reproductive rights

We’ve written a few times about extortion attempts by liberal journalists, who think it’s their job to “name and shame” companies that haven’t yet toed the party line to their satisfaction. Back in 2020 when a group called “Stop Hate for Profit” organized a boycott of Facebook, CNN did a story on “the big brands that haven’t pulled ads from Facebook yet.” Yet.

More recently, as in a few days ago, CNBC decided to run a story on which big companies hadn’t yet spoken out in response to the leaked draft of the Roe v. Wade decision that had sparked “outrage.” “Dozens of companies, including Walmart, American Airlines and Disney,” they wrote, “have yet to issue statements or respond to CNBC requests for comment.” Yet.

As we reported, Judd Legum posted a whiny thread about a large PR company that was advising its clients to stay out of the Roe v. Wade battle. Sounds like good advice to us.

We didn’t know the Washington Post had a video game reporter, but they do, and Nathan Grayson decided to reach out to more than 20 major video game companies to see if they intended to speak up in favor of reproductive rights.

NEW: @shannon_liao and I reached out to over 20 major video game companies about whether they intend to speak up in favor of reproductive rights or provide monetary aid to employees. just a few said yes. most said nothing at all https://t.co/Z9AsO4QqZ6

— Nathan Grayson (@Vahn16) May 11, 2022

Again, great way to make a story up out of nothing.

So you used your position as Jeff Bezos’ attack dog to threaten companies you claim to “cover” that they better support the violence of abortion or you’d sic a violent mob on them. You’re a baddie — and NOT a journalist.

— Mollie (@MZHemingway) May 12, 2022

1. Have you considered getting a real job?
2. Do you think it's smart for a business to issue an opinion on the most divisive political issue in the country?
3. Do you think the right should also demand fealty oaths, e.g., in support of the 2nd Amendment?

— Sunni Labeouf (@medved_bjj) May 12, 2022

The real news here is that Grayson still has a career in journalism. https://t.co/tYJfJWsFcU

— Brandon Morse (@TheBrandonMorse) May 12, 2022

Why should any company be expected to get involved in the abortion debate? It’s so bizarre that you think this is an issue.

— Amanda Beres (@AmandaRBeres) May 12, 2022

I can't imagine why would any company want to stay silent on an ultra-hot button political issue that's entirely unrelated to anything they do when any position they take is guaranteed to alienate some potential customers.

— Hiram Flagston (@hiandlois) May 12, 2022

Did any of them say "go pound sand"?

That would be the correct response.

— J.G. Petruna (@jgpetruna) May 12, 2022

This is a toxic new way of “journalisming”

You reach out to neutral actors on X, most don’t comment, then you write about “the silence” or for those who speak, ABC spoke out against X.

You create a whole controversy, where non existed, by yourself, and then report on it

— Ben (@thethriftygene) May 12, 2022

So… you're an activist?

— #CMFL (@seeemmeffell) May 12, 2022

Nailed it.

Related:

CNBC: Major companies, including Disney, ‘keep largely silent’ on Roe v. Wade decision draft leak ‘outrage’ https://t.co/fFb09rP0Uu

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) May 4, 2022