Some feminists won’t allow video games to just be video games.
The lead designer of Harry Potter game Hogwarts Legacy, Troy Leavitt, has been criticized online for his YouTube videos, which express reactionary political views and “anti-SJW” positions. These videos include defenses of “canceled” cultural figures like Atari founder Nolan Bushnell and ousted Pixar boss John Lasseter, as well as critical takes on the work of influential feminist essayist Anita Sarkeesian.
Bushnell has been accused of fostering a sexist work environment in his time at Atari. Lasseter was accused of serial sexual misconduct to his fellow employees in 2017, which led to his exit from Pixar in 2018.
Though the channel has always been publicly available, a series of tweets by Did You Know Gaming contributor Liam Robertson has brought new attention on Leavitt’s channel. Robertson described the videos as “anti-feminist” and “pro-GamerGate,” and stated that he’s “not trying to ‘cancel’ [Leavitt].” Robertson cited the John Lasseter video as particularly revealing: In it, Leavitt describes the MeToo movement as a “moral panic” and says that he’ll likely be branded a “rape apologist” due to his views on Lasseter.
