UPDATE 5/16: Facebook Gaming (via GamesIndustry.biz) cut ties with both Jeff Leach and NitroLukeDX - the latter due to "behavior on prior streams" - on May 13. This comes after Leach accused NitroLukeDX of manipulating the footage of Leach circulated on social media, as well as after Twitter users pointed out similarly "highly offensive and demeaning language" in previous NitroLukeDX videos, according to GamesIndustry.biz.
On May 14, Leach issued an apology, saying, "I have also reacted passionately in situations where I felt attacked, targeted or harassed and I have very occasionally lost control – and that’s what happened to me with a couple of individuals in the gaming community. My rancor towards them was not only wrong but also the antithesis of my relationship with my fan base and the inclusive message I try to promote – and for this, I am deeply sorry but also ashamed." The full statement can be found on TwitLonger.
The original article follows, but it has been updated to more accurately represent Leach's comments and who they were directed towards in the social media clips.
Call of Duty publisher Activision is "no longer working with" Jeff Leach, voice actor of Ghost in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare reboot, following the social media circulation of offensive and derogatory comments Leach directed at a fellow content creator and, later, someone in the chat of one of his livestreams. Leach had taken over the role of Ghost as a Modern Warfare Season 2 Operator in early 2020.
Ghost is one of the series' more recognizable characters, making his debut in Modern Warfare 2 in 2009. The skull-masked character then made a post-launch appearance in the reboot as a multiplayer character with Leach as his new actor. Appearing in seasonal cutscenes that served as extensions of Modern Warfare's story, Ghost is expected to play a larger role in the inevitable sequel, which will likely release in 2022.
If Ghost does appear more frequently in a new game, Leach will not be reprising his role. YouTuber and Facebook Gaming streamer NitroLukeDX recently shared a series of clips showing Leach making offensive and derogatory comments towards streamer ZombiUnicorn in 2017 and towards someone in Leach's livestream chat in 2020, which NitroLukeDX called "Serious personalised intrusive sexism."
Following the clips' circulation, Activision issued a statement to CharlieIntel:
"Sexism has no place in our industry, our games or in society. [...] Activision is no longer working with Jeff Leach. We strongly condemn these remarks. We are committed to delivering a fun and safe experience for all players."
Responding to NitroLukeDX's tweet before Activision's statement, ZombiUnicorn called out Activision for "acting ... like allies" by posting in support of causes like Black Lives Matter but not following through or dealing with "misogynistic, harassing" behavior abuse in their own spheres. "Why are you hiring people like this, with well-documented cases of this kind of stuff?," ZombiUnicorn said. "Please, put your money where your mouth is."
Leach is also a partner with Facebook Gaming, but the platform has yet to make any statement on the matter. Activision, for one, addressed the issue swiftly once it resurfaced, but as ZombiUnicorn pointed out, Leach's behavior wasn't something new. According to Dexetero, Leach's comments in the first clip in NitroLukeDX's tweet, which occurred during a 2017 Twitch livestream, resulted in Leach being permanently banned from the platform. Whether Activision was aware of Leach's actions prior to hiring him is unknown.
As for what this might mean for the Modern Warfare sequel, Call of Duty 2021 is rumored to be a WWII game. It's likely the next Modern Warfare won't need its actors for any recording sessions until the end of 2021 or early 2022, so there's plenty of time to find a more deserving actor for the role. Whether or not Activision will go the extra lengths to re-record Leach's performances in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare remains to be seen.
Source: CharlieIntel, ZombiUnicorn, Dexetero