
It is natural to want to shorten the names of heroes. This is especially true in Overwatch. The community has done this with Brig, Rein, Hog, Ball, and others. Junker Queen is the newest hero that is in Overwatch 2. As her name is longer as well as two worded it is natural that it would be shortened down. The Summer Showdown tournament in the Overwatch League has brought the Junker Queen into more prominence, as before she was only playable in the Overwatch 2 beta. In the shortening of the name, many have gone for the initials of the Junker Queen. This may seem like a good alternative, but the already-standing connotation could be problematic and offensive.
Pepe was a popular emote in Twitch chat and social media. That didn’t stand in the Overwatch League for long as it was taken down from use in Season 1. Though it had been a popular internet meme for a while, Pepe became a symbol that was used by various hate groups. The symbol didn’t start out as a hate symbol, but through association had started to be seen as one.
In 2018 the Overwatch League told Dotesports: “The Overwatch League discourages the use of symbols and imagery which are associated with or used by hate groups, including Pepe the Frog…” This caused many players to wipe Pepe from their Twitch channels, Twitter, etc. That was all the way back in the inaugural season of the League, but that set a precedent for any potential situation that might pop up seasons down the road.
Now in the fifth season of the Overwatch League the newest hero, the Junker Queen, has come out and is starting to be talked about more. The shorted name that has been adopted by many is the initials of the Junker Queen.
If not living in North America, one might not have heard about the issue surrounding the two initials. The initials of the Junker Queen can also be known as “the Jewish Question”. Though this concept originated in Europe back in the day. European antisemitism would try and find ‘solutions to the Jewish Question.’ The Holocaust was a result of ‘the Final Solution’ to the Jewish Question.
This has morphed many times throughout the decades, but in the modern day has been used by certain radical political groups. These known racist groups have been using those initials to surreptitiously ask people their stance on ‘the Jewish Question.’ This is to ask others their thoughts on the Jewish community and their influence in major industries such as media, banking, and politics, in our society. When these groups talk about the concept and or ‘answers’ to the question to address it they will use the initials instead of saying it fully. This is used as anti-Semitic speech.
This brings it back to the potentially uncomfortable position for the Overwatch League. Their brand is and always has been for inclusivity. Now one of their heroes is unintentionally being referenced using shortened hate speech. Not only referenced by fans but also by the official staff of Blizzard has been using the shortened name of the Junker Queen. Out of context that could be misconstrued or twisted into something that it is not.
Of course, context is important. There are many word combinations that share the same initials as the Junker Queen. But the issue is the precedent that Blizzard has already set with Pepe. There was a good chunk of time that Pepe was not associated with hate groups. The context and decoration of Pepe could also be differentiated, but the company decided to pull Pepe all together. What makes Pepe and the Junker Queen’s nickname different if both could be associated with hate speech?
It is the balance that all companies need to find. How is the fan base not alienated, those who might feel the shortened name of the Junker Queen is fine and the community is too soft, and the potential hurt that the Jewish community might feel?
Another precedent that was set was that they aren’t afraid of changing the name of heroes. Jesse McCree is now Cole Cassidy. The Junker Queen doesn’t even need a new name. All that she needs is for the casters and talent to rebrand her. The Queen seems like a fitting nickname for the Junker Queen. As she has not even been released yet to the public, it seems like the perfect time to nudge the narrative to a potentially less hurtful alternative. As she has cemented herself into the Summer Showdown meta, there will for sure will a lot of talk about her and hopefully, it can stand strong along Blizzard’s brand of inclusivity.
Follow The Game Haus for more sports and esports coverage:
Twitter: TGH Esports
Facebook: The Game Haus
For more high-quality esports analysis and memes, check out Lauren’s Twitter, @Daebakowl
“From Our Haus to Yours”