Activision cuts ties with voice actor of Ghost, Jeff Leach, after sexist comments resurface

Jeff Leach was the voice actor behind the Ghost character in Modern Warfare 2019 and Warzone. The entire original Modern Warfare cast was re-casted for the 2019 reboot, and Leach voiced Ghost when the character was added as an operator in Season 2 in February 2020.

[MadLad]

So more internet warriors got someone cancelled for having a vulgar, excessive sense of humor. Got it.

[Jin_Sakai]

This generations sucks. Everyone’s so sensitive about everything.

[MadLad]

When social media started blowing up, it was seen as this magical way to be heard by the entire population.
It's now something whose rules you have to tiptoe around in order to not be banned, or have a horde of people to try to use it to screw you over in life.

I'm only 29, and have seen the true birth of the internet, its utilization for self-expression, and the eventual gate keeping it's now used for.

[Eonjay]

Not really. Large corporations seek to maximize profits by attracting a diverse clientele. Therefore, if someone makes a public statement that can be seen as offensive, the companies don't want to be associated with that because they fear that it could undermine profits by detracting potential customers. And nothing more.

[Rimeskeem]

Actually, the generation is practically the same as all the other generations, they just have social media now that lets them easily vent their insecurities, etc to the public masses and if someone agrees it's even easier to share and have a minority of people make it look much bigger than it is.

[PrinceAli]

Holding people accountable isnt sensitivity... dont be an asshole and you wont get in trouble how is that difficult!?

[SinisterKieran]

oh look...a SJW

[Eonjay]

@knightedHollow

If you think this is about anything more than money then you are buying the koolaid.

What is the purpose of a corporation? No catch phrases or half-baked political movements. Point blank, what is the purpose of a corporation?

[Bigman4k]

Facts

[XbladeTeddy]

To be fair, the way he spoke about women was pretty vile from what I heard him say on the video. He sounds like a complete muppet in general who thinks he's something special. If you're the voice of a character in a big franchise you need to learn to keep your mouth shut and act professional or of course this stuff will happen. He did this to himself.

[Eonjay]

This is correct. Especially if you may be seen as a representative of that product/company. I don't understand why people act like professionalism is something new out of California.

[Dragonslave]

If I recall Donald Trump had a voice recording surface saying grab them by the p***y and they can't do anything and he became president. So...

[CorndogBurglar]

@Dragonslave
The difference is Trump didn't have a company he worked for to fire him for the "Grab them by the P" comments. He owns his companies. He ran for president and people voted for him. Its pretty simple to see what the difference is there.

[PrinceAli]

Oh STFU you people are actually just plain and simply stupid! "Excessive sense of humour" is sucha stupid take.. you guys are always excusing stupidity and offensiveness as 'Dark Humour/Excessive Humour' its actually embarrassing!

[MadLad]

And people like you legitimize the sort of people who seemingly spend all their time scouring the internet net, trying to dig up whatever dirt they can on people they don't agree with politically, ideologically, or they simply don't share the same world view.

I'm sure you've never insulted someone on the internet. Oh wait, you just did. I'm sure you never had any drinks in you, or got worked up, and perhaps went overboard.
Luckily I can take an insult, or a vulgar joke, and not try my best to ruin your life in retaliation.

People are allowed to speak their mind. Private business is allowed to cut ties due to that choice.
People are then allowed to see the situation and call BS.

Sorry, we live in a world where there are people out there that will dig up statements from decades prior, jokes or no, and do everything they can to ruin people's lives in the current day; causing people to literally tiptoe around everything they say.

We truly are losing freedom of speech.

[MadLad]

It's funny you hold the views you do. You can't post a single, levelheaded post not riddled with insults and verbiage obviously meant to incite anger in the person it's directed at.

You're so highly hypocritical, it's almost laughable.

You're someone, supposedly, defending the idea that people shouldn't be outwardly aggressive against other people, yet you act in the same exact way with anyone who holds a different worldview than you.

I conceded the guy said off color things. I stated I don't believe it should ruin someone's career.

You've proven me right in almost every post you've made here.
Going through your history, you're not exactly the nicest, most understanding individual found. You seemingly don't know how to address another individual you disagree with without mocking. No matter what the topic is. It says a lot about the character who is trying to criticize other people on their morals.

[Extermin8or3_]

But it's true... some people do have a dark or vulgar sense of humour and within reason that should be allowed... this shit has gotten ridiculous... it's not like he said it at work or through his capacity as an employee of theirs...

I saw a great example of how far this has all gone on linkedin other day. This guy had posted a picture of his child that has downs syndrome with a comment about derogatory names people sometimes use- about her or something. Anyway this guy had commented "that he appreciated the matter but linkedin is surely meant to be for business stuff only and personal matters like that should go on facebook shouldn't they?" Now I don't agree however literally no sooner than he had made this comment there were a bunch of people informing him they had contacted his employer to find out well basically if they'd fire him for his comment. I mean wtf, why try to ruin peoples lives simply for voicing a view you don't agree with.

[Elwenil]

I really enjoy watching leftists cry about something while doing the exact same thing. If you are going to throw a fit about being offensive, should you really be offensive in the same post? Look at all your posts in this thread, they are all full of bile and hate, the very things you are screaming against. I can't wait to see the left eat itself, it's already beginning.

[Christopher]

"We truly are losing freedom of speech."

Much like your namesake, you clearly don't understand that freedom of speech applies to speaking out against the government. It doesn't protect you in your private life from being fired or asked to leave the property of others.

The sooner people realize words can have consequences in the private sector, the sooner they'll realize where and when it's appropriate to have some edgy comedy moments.

[gamer7804]

Granted it’s a crass thing say but this cancel culture is frustrating

[Extermin8or3_]

@brrdatisback if you do it outside of your work environment, not in anyway affliated to that job and not directed at any work collegues then yes you should be able to make any joke you want and not be fired for it.

[BrockEmSockEm]

seriously, wtf was the female gamers meeting in the video xD "what do we do?" "We need to stand up against it" ...jeez, it's all for publicity and internet points.

[LordoftheCritics]

I'm glad. We don't need to celebrate ppl like him.

[wooferine]

Social media = mob. Cancellation = mob justice.

[CDbiggen]

I cut ties with Activision after their patch handling for MW surfaced. They're an absolute DISGRACE.

[Abear21]

Another privileged man not thinking before he speaks. I think it’s hilarious. Problem is people NEED to be in front of that camera, even when they are well paid. Why? Just shut up with your views and bad jokes. It’s a privilege to be online not a right and until men start taking responsibility for what they say, specifically on the internet where you are judged by liberal expectations of the masses, this will keep happening…especially to white guys. He was ruthless btw watch the clip.

[jznrpg]

It will happen to anyone man or woman or any race speaking that way towards another in a public space who is sponsoring a company publicly

[kthxcrayon]

That's cool. Feel free to support the 39yo aggressively sexist dude who lost his job because of his repeated (and documented) malicious and prejudiced behavior directed primarily at young and teenage girls.

And, humor? If you believe that crap you're peddling, then I feel genuinely sorry for you: you have an obviously embittered future from existing in a society that tends towards equality over time.

[victorMaje]

His comments were directed at her, she’s a woman so of course now his comments become directed at all women, he gets cancelled, logic.

Activision: "…We are committed to delivering a fun and safe experience for all players".
Imo not a very fun or safe experience when everyone is scared of being cancelled because of what they might say.

People need to be very careful of the communities of hypocrites that are being created.

[BlackIceJoe]

Is there no forgiveness? What happened to letting people learn from their mistakes and become a better man or woman?

Every man and woman has made mistakes in the past and shouldn't be held to the same standards as if they did it today.

[jznrpg]

He can still learn from his mistakes . But it doesn’t mean a company has to pay him for a public image they were paying for when it’s tarnished now , that’s just plain stupid .

[MadLad]

The idea Activision/Blizzard run the company the way they do, but draw the line at our voice actor said mean things, is hilarious to me.

[GameZenith]

I made mistakes but I never made vulgar, offensive or sexist comments to women.

There is making mistakes but come on....one should know that in today's climate such stuff is uncalled for.

[MadLad]

"In today's climate" is the exact point.
What's tomorrow's climate? I'm on the left, but I wholly believe that we're not progressing, we're devolving.

[Ratty]

People can grow up and change though so I agree with BlackIceJoe on that one. I'm not saying it can apply to the current situation but I see it as a problem with this kind of backlash. Make one mistake and your career is over forever.

Not to mention someone could easily take something you said years ago out of context and make you sound sexist or racist and there goes your future. And spoiler alert : the vast majority of people only read headlines so good luck making your case to all the Internet mobs who will mindlessly come for blood.

Then again a lot of people also got away with a lot worse than what Leach did. My point is that there's little to no true justice when those things blow up online.

[Rachel_Alucard]

Of course she'd respond using the words "Cis white men." I wouldn't of expected anyone else to care this much.

[lifeisgamesok]

The cancel culture needs to be canceled

[Gardenia]

Cancel culture is an embarrassment but the people who give in to it are even worse.

[THRASHMOUTH]

Fight fire with fire.

[Axonometri]

I can't seem to understand the rules anymore. Don't be shocked if it all comes crumbling down in the near future. We need a Fast and Hard Reset. Bad needs to equal Bad. Abnormal needs to equal Abnormal. Rules need to apply to Everyone. But I am only a 49 yr old white man.. so...

[sourOG]

“ One of the clips shows Leach, while playing Call of Duty: Warzone, saying, “I love how it’s always like some dirty, dirty, gross f**king looking emo b**ch who looks like she f**king has no chance of getting a bit of d**k in her.”

Lmao! That’s not being sexist. That’s just being an asshole. And it’s on his own time, he’s not doing it at work. I dunno, I hope the whole “woke generation” crumbles into bitter despair soon before it drags the rest of us with it.

[LiViNgLeGaCY]

I hope for this as well. This has become a plague to society.

[sourOG]

“I love how it’s always”. That’s how it started, it was a response. She could be a rat headed stripper for all we know. Talking mad shit. They leave that part out. I personally don’t feel like that’s an “exile” offense like some do. If you can’t be an asshole once without getting your life ruined you are playing under rigged rules. Especially if you are just talking shit back and not harassing random people.

Hopefully they eat each other with woke capital before they take over for good. I doubt it though, brace for impact lol.

[giveyerheadawobble]

37 and behaving like a teenager who's just hit puberty and drank his first tin of beer.

What a tosser. Deserved what he got.

[Redemption-64]

I guess people never learn, especially when you are on the payroll of a billion dollar company and you signed a contract with them. I learned my lesson, after I was suspended for calling a lady, a very stupid woman, after she began posting Qanon links and photoshoped images, as proof.

[BlackTar187]

99% chance this is a made-up story.

[Redemption-64]

The truth always seemed to trigger some people. And hey, if you think it's made up, more power to you, have zero interest in convincing someone online i got suspended for insulting a Q supporter online.

[Sgt_Slaughter]

If you look into the person who it was directed at, you'll see she's a major hypocrite and has done the same if not worse behavior. Sounds like she's trying to bury her own transgressions under this.

[Zeref]

Good, he's a grown ass man. Should have been more professional.

[Inverno]

And they are properly canceling him too. Going after sponsors and getting him off Twitch. Context is what I need, but cancel culture ignores that out the door. I'm tired of people labeling those against cancel culture as right wing just to deflect how awful it really is. Tired of people now saying that it isn't canceling, but about making people "face consequences" for their behavior. She was being toxic, and he called her out on it, and being a woman shouldn't exclude you from being put in your place. Also twitter sucks and I look forward to the day all these sites get shut down permanently. The amount of toxicity bred on that site is asinine!

[Powerhug]

Craig Fairbrass is the real Ghost anyway. Get him back!

[VTKC]

One of those witches are at it again I see.

[Rimeskeem]

If it's one time it's a mistake they learned from. No reason to punish someone who made a mistake they didn't make again. That's why we call them mistakes.

[kwijgaming]

After reading the article and watching the related clips (which I'm certain you did), how many times do you think he made this same mistake? Once?

If he happened to make the same mistake twice, then the actions taken would have merit?

[Rimeskeem]

It's less about the amount and more about consistency. If you have a conversation with someone who you have known for 10 years and they say something that is sus then you should be able to sweep it under the rug as long as something is said and you don't dwell on it. Learn from mistakes, maybe you will get punished in a drastic way. But people are so upset when they get called out. If a company you have supported does something you don't like, boycott, don't just whine and complain about how something changed. Companies have values that they want to stick to, if someone who represents the company says something stupid or shows their true colors then the company has every right to remove them. People forget that the 1st amendment in the US applies to the government and not the private corps. If you want the 1st amendment to apply to private corps then that would require a constitutional amendment.

There is a process, if you want something, you can make it popular and make it a bill. Live in a state that wants to not have any sort of cancel culture? Start the process in the state.

[roadkillers]

Bunch of p*ssies... Well, looks like I will be banned from starring in games too

[rambot89]

I hate cancel culture as much as the next guy but the way this guy is behaving, regardless of whether he's insulting women or not should be facing some consequences for this. It's not professional and he's verbalising abusing gamers which he is (to an extent) working for.

[Doge]

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

[eXclurel]

Cancel culture strikes again. I am really tired of people getting butthurt from every single thing.

[kwijgaming]

What obligation does Activision (or any company, for that matter) have to pay this guy any money? They write these things into contracts.

He can still say whatever he wants.

Activision just doesn't need to finance it if they don't think it's going to make them money and--more importantly--is going to help them lose money.

[EazyC]

I thought he was a character? He has a very "flashy trashy" thing going on with his standup act, he often says this kinda shit to the crowd, and dresses garishly with tons of rings, it's part of his shtick.

Also I listened to what he said. Who gives a shit? It just goes to show though, you really do have to be squeaky clean as far as record goes, even as an extremely minor celebrity.

[quenomamen]

Ooh he just called some women a fat emo _unt whats the big deal ? Is it ok if I call your mom,sister,aunt that ?

[BlackTar187]

yes it is.

Cause you know words are just words.

[Rambokind]

Totally absurd. It's the new inquisition. Digging up bones and burning them. What a stupid world.

[GameZenith]

Yeah, what a stupid world to include men who publicly disrespects women.

[BlackTar187]

how many women are cancelled for talking about men? Or maybe Women just never say bad things about men?

[anast]

Welcome to the Puritan age. Who would have thought Neo-Nazi's storming D.C. and the Neo-liberal left conducting witch hunts. Great time to be alive my friends, current history is a parody. Of course if he's an ass"#($, then he's an ass#$"!.

[GameZenith]

Lol at the salty snowflakes in these comments.

You men really that hurt?

[BlackTar187]

why are you insulting people? Nice try and turn snowflakes around but it's not working.

[Lord_Sloth]

*slams somebody for derogatory and prejudice comments while blaming his race and gender before his name* Huh...

[Bronbron92]

I get it’s inappropriate to say certain things whether it’s joking or not towards men, women, or even a particular race of individuals but for the content creators to directly say oh FB and Activision are allowing this is a pretty far fetch acquisition I hate to say this and be that guy but everyone has the freedom of speech obviously and clearly he is suffering the consequences of it, I do agree it shouldn’t be happening but honestly this is only a big deal because it’s someone that’s a big involvement in the series if it was some average guy who just streams once a month and has less than 100 followers it’s over looked, people just can’t sit a be like he/she is stupid or ignore the comment things like this will never go away

[gold_drake]

i think out of context, those comments are really harsh and you know.
but, those clips were edited to come across like that. im not saying it to excuse him, but hes british. we brits have an actual sense of humor. we are sarcastic as fk, we swear ALOT. if thats not for you, dont watch it. let him say wat he wants. hes not really a public figure. let people say what they want. i hate triggered people.

yall scream about freedom of speech, but if theres someone who is not PC at all, youre all up and arms. hypocrisy at its finest.

"as girl gamers, what do we do as a collective" - wut? LOL perspective love. perspective.

[neomahi]

Someones a little too sensitive. Nobody really notices or cares when it comes to gaming. And theres only a few actors in the business gamers really even know: Nolan North, John DiMaggio, and David Hayter. Nobody knows or cares who this guy is, its just paranoia. Its not even a standard. Activison could care less, by moral standards, because they have skeletons in their closet, its just that nobody has caught them on it, yet. Its a publicity stunt to save reputation alone so they can keep their private jet and four homes. All these executives are corrupt and dirty, they just know how to buy people off. Look at Wienstein thats sitting in jail. Bobby Kotick has some skeletons hes trying to hide too hoping he wont get caught and thinking hes above the law. Maybe someday Executives will be treated like ordinary citizens, when the law can grow a pair and have moral integrity. This is mild compared to what execs at Activision have done and are covering up, promise you. You dig deep enough, youll find it.

[Kakashi Hatake]

Why are women not being cancelled for the bad things they say about men? Anyone that supports a double standard will soon see themselves in the same position one day.

[GameZenith]

This was a public conversation he had and as a professional and as an adult he should be mature enough to be aware of what he says in public like this.

I mean come on, what self respectful male goes out and talks about/to women like this in the open public?

[Ratty]

That kind of shit talk shouldn't fly regardless of people's genders.

[GameZenith]

Either way, he deserves what he got.

[WheatBread]

Every emo chick I've met was dirty and yes, I did. Jr doesn't care apparently.

[Ratty]

I don't know the guy so I can only make assumptions based on what I gathered from the information provided. The so-called sexist comments were not sexist as they were directed to individuals who happened to be women. The video doesn't provide any context as to what triggered him to spout those insults. If he treats men the same way then he's not sexist. He's just an asshole.

I definitely wouldn't call it humor though. His insults are cringe af. From what I've seen I would never want my game associated with someone like that who streams himself insulting players online. That's just not the kind of public image you want regardless of sexism.

[Nineball2112]

There's a lot of anger in the world today.

If there is anyone here who also feels like they could use some help, I'd suggest the book "The Cow in the Parking Lot".

Here is something that struck me and it makes sense:

"The third reason for the persistence of anger is that it is addictive. There is a physical and emotional high that comes with feeling anger. The physical sensation is set off by the release of adrenaline with it s resulting increase in blood pressure. This anger "high" become addictive much as smoking or drinking does."

[Blaze929]

So people pulled up old ZombiUnicorn tweets where she is JUST as vulgar and inappropriate on Twitter talking to other people. She's blocking them and hiding the replies.

calling the kettle black

[Duke19]

I like how low we have set the bar. Someone being a jerk to someone on the internet means OTHER people can be jerks to people on the internet.

[Kratos_Kart2007]

so an asshole gets called out and people are upset? Back in the day a punch in the face would solve this problem

[Duke19]

“I love how it’s always like some dirty, dirty, gross f**king looking emo b**ch who looks like she f**king has no chance of getting a bit of d**k in her.”

Downvote away, but thats still a shitty thing to say and I GUARANTEE he wouldn't say it to that girl's face.

[MadLad]

Bad thing to say. Happens to be said towards someone who has been a less than great person, herself.

And if he said it to her face would that somehow be better in any way? He's not straight up harassing her. He's, in passing, insulting someone he obviously has strong issues with.

Have you never had such a distaste for someone that you've spoken in the same way? I'm a pretty respectful person, but I know I have.

[FPS_D3TH]

Lmao when they start using terms like cis white men I roll my eyes and continue to ignore their ridiculous claims. People like her are and ever will be happy

[iivGHOST]

These females do the same thing to us guys lmao