Video Game Developer of Popular Franchise Retires After Fan Outrage: ‘I’m Christian, Pro-Life’
By Movieguide® Staff
Game developer Scott Cawthon, known for the popular horror video game “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” announced his retirement from creating video games after he donated to conservative politicians and revealed that he is a “Christian” and “pro-life.”
Cawthon made donations to former President Donald Trump, several republicans, and former Democratic U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii.
Fans of his game, primarily his LGBT fanbase according to GameRant, expressed their outrage at his support of the Republican and conservative voices.
According to GameRant, fans of Cawthon’s game franchise voiced their outrage online.
GameRant reported:
Fans who searched for Scott Cawthon on Open Secrets, an index of public political contributions, noticed that the developer has made significant monetary contributions to a number of conservative politicians such as Senator Mitch McConnell and former president Donald J. Trump. With the huge popularity of the Five Nights At Freddy’s series, a significant portion of the fanbase have taken to social media such as Twitter and Reddit to voice disappointment for Cawthon’s donations, and as a result both he and Five Nights At Freddy’s have been trending topics on Twitter for the past several days.
Cawthon confirmed that the donations were intended and not someone hacking his account, as one fan suggested.
Cawthorn responded to the backlash and announced his retirement from the franchise.
“I’d like to think that the last seven years would have given me the benefit of the doubt in regards to how I try to treat people, but there I was, trending on Twitter for being a homophobe, getting doxed, with people threatening to come to my house,” Cawthon wrote. “All this because I exercised my right, and my duty, as an American citizen, to vote for and support the candidates who I felt could best run the country, for everyone, and that’s something that I won’t apologize for.”
He continued: “And yes, I supported President Trump, because I felt he was the best man to fuel a strong economy and stand up to America’s enemies abroad, of which there are many. Even if there were candidates who had better things to say to the LGBT community directly, and bigger promises to make, I believed that their stances on other issues would have ended up doing much greater harm to those communities than good.
“I’m a republican. I’m a Christian. I’m pro-life. I believe in God. I also believe in equality, and in science, and in common sense,” Cawthon confirmed. “Despite what some may say, all of those things can go together. That’s not an apology or promise to change, it’s the way it’s always been.”
Cawthon admitted that his apology would not change the minds of disappointed or outraged fans and claimed to have accepted getting “cancelled.”
“If I get cancelled, then I get cancelled,” Cawthon wrote. “I don’t do this for the money anymore; I do it because I enjoy it. If people think I’m doing more harm than good now, then maybe it’s better that I get cancelled and retire. I would accept that. I’ve had a fulfilling career. Besides, most things that people can take from you are things that never had much value to begin with.”
Movieguide® cannot advise on the content of the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” game.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
