GameStop Hit With Backlash After Controversial Joke Tweet

GameStop received criticism online after posting a joke about a man attempting to return his girlfriend for credit towards a PlayStation 5, and the company eventually removed the post. GameStop has evolved from a store mainly selling video games to one that offers a broader range of items. Today, customers can find things like trading cards, Funko Pops, clothing, and other pop culture merchandise alongside new and used games at their stores.

In early 2026, GameStop unexpectedly announced it would be closing hundreds of stores nationwide, catching many shoppers and employees off guard. Those who visited the closing locations found notices detailing the shutdown date, along with coupons for other stores – a gesture many customers found insensitive. The company is now facing further criticism after a recent social media post sparked more negative feedback regarding the closures and coupons.

GameStop Takes Down Controversial Post After Backlash

GameStop recently shared a joke on social media that didn’t land well with the public. The post, which has since been removed, described a man attempting to trade his girlfriend for store credit to buy a PlayStation 5. It jokingly mentioned she was in “good condition” but the store couldn’t accept people as trade-ins. While some saw it as a continuation of their popular trade-in promotion, many others found the post to be in poor taste and criticized it online. Despite its removal, the post continues to be a topic of discussion.

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Almost immediately after the post was published, many people commented that the joke fell flat. Others were upset that it referenced human trafficking, a very serious issue that shouldn’t be joked about. One Reddit user also noticed the image seemed to be AI-generated. The original post claimed the woman in the picture was an employee named Nevaeh, but she’s actually a fake AI character often used by the satirical Facebook page Celina 52 Truck Stop. Some people labeled the post as low-quality AI content, even joking that the store shelves looked unrealistically full for a GameStop. The increasing use of AI in gaming is already a sensitive topic for many players, leading some to criticize GameStop for seeming disconnected from their audience.

GameStop has faced criticism before for questionable social media posts, and they recently did it again. After Amazon revealed the first look at Sophie Turner as Lara Croft, GameStop shared the image on Twitter with the caption, “This is not Lara Croft.” This sparked outrage among fans, many of whom pointed out that GameStop has more pressing issues, like the recent closure of numerous stores. Turner is famous for playing Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones, but is now taking on the role of Lara Croft in an upcoming show. The image showed her in the character’s classic outfit – a teal tank top, black shorts, and sunglasses – and generally received positive feedback. Despite recent criticism, many gamers still hope GameStop can improve and create a positive experience for both customers and employees.

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2026-02-09 21:36