I said yesterday that my next post would be about happy things, such as Pandas or Monks. It IS a happy post. As an update to yesterday’s post, it seems something has finally filtered though. I appreciate the apology, it’s worlds apart from what I actually expected to get from Blizzard at this stage. Thank you Mike Morhaime, I will be optimistic and hope that this is a sign of continued improvement on Blizzard’s track record when it comes to their record on handling QUILTBAG issues, sexism, and hate speech in general.

Bashiok
Community Manager
Dear members of the Blizzard community,

I have read your feedback and comments about this year’s BlizzCon, and I have also read the feedback to the apology from Level 90 Elite Tauren Chieftain. I’d like to respond to some of your feedback here.

As president of Blizzard, I take full responsibility for everything that occurs at BlizzCon.

It was shortsighted and insensitive to use the video at all, even in censored form. The language used in the original version, including the slurs and use of sexual orientation as an insult, is not acceptable, period. We realize now that having even an edited version at the show was counter to the standards we try to maintain in our forums and in our games. Doing so was an error in judgment, and we regret it.

The bottom line is we deeply apologize for our mistakes and for hurting or offending anyone. We want you to have fun at our events, and we want everyone to feel welcome. We’re proud to be part of a huge and diverse community, and I am proud that so many aspects of the community are represented within Blizzard itself.

As a leader of Blizzard, and a member of the band, I truly hope you will accept my humblest apology.

– Mike Morhaime
President, Blizzard Entertainment

Blizzard wrote up the above apology after a conference call with GLAAD. You can read more about that at Gay Gamer. Thank you to everyone who has spoken out about this. I am so please to see a real apology over this issue.