CEO Steps Down after Declaring He’s Pro-Life and Backing Texas Heartbeat Law
On Monday, a Georgia-based video game company said its CEO had stepped down following comments in which he declared he is pro-life and applauded the Supreme Court for letting the Texas heartbeat abortion law stand.
John Gibson had been CEO of Tripwire Interactive until he posted a tweet referencing his beliefs about the unborn.
“Proud of #USSupremeCourt affirming the Texas law banning abortion for babies with a heartbeat. As an entertainer, I don’t get political often,” Gibson wrote on Saturday. “Yet with so many vocal peers on the other side of this issue, I felt it was important to go on the record as a pro-life game developer.”
Proud of #USSupremeCourt affirming the Texas law banning abortion for babies with a heartbeat. As an entertainer I don’t get political often. Yet with so many vocal peers on the other side of this issue, I felt it was important to go on the record as a pro-life game developer.
— John Gibson (@RammJaeger) September 4, 2021
On Monday, the company said in its own tweet that Gibson had stepped down. Gibson’s comments, the company said, “do not reflect those of Tripwire Interactive.”
“Our leadership team at Tripwire are deeply sorry and are unified in our commitment to take swift action and to foster a more positive environment,” the company said. “Effective immediately, John Gibson has stepped down as CEO of Tripwire Interactive.”
A statement regarding recent events.
Tripwire Official Site: https://t.co/Vgyx0jMLBb pic.twitter.com/rmKp105EIg
— Tripwire Interactive (@TripwireInt) September 7, 2021
Last week, the Supreme Court refused to block a new Texas law that prohibits abortions if doctors detect an unborn baby’s heartbeat, which is normally around six weeks of pregnancy. The law allows private citizens to sue doctors who violate the law and anyone who “knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets the performance or inducement of an abortion.”
Pro-life activists defended Gibson.
“What are your core values – supporting the dismemberment & suctioning to death of helpless preborn children?” asked Lila Rose, president of the pro-life group Live Action. “Abortion is violence & women deserve better. What a shameful, gross stance. You are backing human rights abuses & punishing those who dare speak out.”
Half of America, Rose noted, “is pro-life.”
“Your CEO stood up for human rights,” Rose wrote, “but apparently that’s not what your company values.”
Half of America is pro-life—including millions of women that you’re ignoring. Abortion is violence against the vulnerable & you’ve publicly sided with violence. Sick & regressive, @TripwireInt. Your CEO stood up for human rights but apparently that’s not what your company values.
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) September 7, 2021
Related:
Texas Law Banning 85 Percent of Abortions Takes Effect: ‘It’s Time to Build a Culture of Life’
Pelosi: House Will Try to Overturn Texas Abortion Ban, ‘Enshrine’ Roe into Law
Photo courtesy: ©Javier Martinez/Unsplash
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
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