Fortnite has taken down the Peaceful Hips emote linked to John Cena’s Peacemaker character after players noticed the dance resembled Nazi symbolism connected to the HBO Max series. The move came in response to widespread criticism over how this crossover was approved, especially given Peacemaker’s R-rated origins and sensitive themes.
The Decision Behind the Emote’s Removal
Epic Games confirmed the emote’s removal through an official post on X, stating they are investigating the intentions behind the collaboration. The company apologized to players and promised refunds for those who purchased the emote if it does not return.
“We’re disabling the Peaceful Hips Emote in Fortnite as we inquire into our partner’s creative intentions in this collab emote. Assuming it’s not coming back, we’ll issue refunds in the next few days. Sorry folks.” — Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus)
The emote was part of a broader Peacemaker bundle but was withdrawn just days after its release due to the backlash. Epic Games’ response underlines their commitment to reviewing partner content more closely moving forward.
How the Emote Ties into Peacemaker Season 2 Storyline
The dance comes directly from Peacemaker’s second season, where an unsettling connection to Nazi symbolism is revealed. In the series intro, the character and others perform a routine whose arm movements eerily resemble a swastika—a stylized Nazi emblem. This scene takes place in an alternate universe named Earth-X, in which Nazis have won World War II.
This twist transformed what appeared to be a lighthearted gesture into a deeply troubling reference, leading many players and viewers to question why it was used in a popular video game.
The ‘Peacemaker’ emote has been disabled in ‘Fortnite’ “We’re disabling the Peaceful Hips Emote in Fortnite as we inquire into this collab emote. Assuming it’s not coming back, we’ll issue refunds in the next few days. Sorry folks” — Culture Crave
Concerns Over Peacemaker’s Inclusion in Fortnite
Criticism extends beyond the emote itself to the broader question of Peacemaker’s presence in Fortnite. The show contains mature content such as violence, explicit language, and politically charged themes, which many consider inappropriate for the game’s predominantly young audience.
James Gunn, the show’s creator, has admitted that Peacemaker is not designed for children. Adding to the controversy, some fans have questioned his decision to make Peacemaker his follow-up project after directing the more family-friendly Superman sequel. The inclusion of a character connected to white supremacist antagonists, including Peacemaker’s father, White Dragon, has only intensified concerns.
Many argue that rather than obscure the emote’s meaning to avoid spoilers, it would have been wiser to exclude Cena’s Peacemaker from Fortnite entirely. Critics see the decision as a lapse in judgment that reflects poorly on Gunn, who has faced scrutiny previously for controversial content, including incidents affecting his Marvel career.
Failures in Corporate Oversight and Communication
The controversy highlights a significant failure in the approval process between Epic Games and its partners. Epic typically vets collaborations carefully to prevent brand-related issues, working with major franchises like Marvel, DC, and Star Wars.
In this case, Epic’s ongoing inquiry suggests Warner Bros., DC Studios, and James Gunn did not fully disclose the emote’s darker context from Peacemaker Season 2 before its release. This lack of transparency resulted in players unknowingly purchasing an emote now described by many as symbolizing Nazi imagery.
Neither James Gunn nor the involved studios, including DC Studios and Warner Bros., have publicly commented on the matter to date, leaving the controversy unresolved.
What This Means for Future Collaborations
The fallout from the James Gunn Peacemaker controversy raises important questions about how mature content from adult-oriented shows is integrated into mainstream gaming platforms with young users. Epic Games’ swift removal and offer of refunds show an awareness of their audience’s sensitivities and indicate a likely tightening of vetting procedures for future crossovers.
As major franchises continue to partner with games like Fortnite, this incident underscores the necessity for clearer communication and more rigorous content review to avoid exposing players to unintended, controversial symbolism.
We're disabling the Peaceful Hips Emote in Fortnite as we inquire into our partner's creative intentions in this collab emote. Assuming it's not coming back, we'll issue refunds in the next few days. Sorry folks.
— Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus) September 28, 2025
The 'Peacemaker' emote has been disabled in 'Fortnite'
"We're disabling the Peaceful Hips Emote in Fortnite as we inquire into this collab emote. Assuming it's not coming back, we'll issue refunds in the next few days. Sorry folks" pic.twitter.com/FBxl85rpFq
— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) September 28, 2025
