Following his role in Mortal Kombat 1, Peacemaker recently debuted in Fortnite as part of a crossover with the ongoing Peacemaker TV series, produced by DC’s James Gunn. However, a dance emote tied to the character’s in-game bundle was swiftly pulled after a pivotal episode of the show exposed its controversial symbolism.

Warning: Spoilers for Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 6

As reported by Eurogamer, Epic Games disabled the ‘Peaceful Hips’ emote, citing the need to review “our partner’s creative intentions” in a social media announcement. Players who purchased the item began receiving refunds shortly after, signaling its likely permanent removal.

The emote, which features rhythmic arm movements, initially appears innocuous. Yet, context from the show’s latest episode reveals the gestures mimic a swastika within an alternate Nazi-dominated storyline.

In the series’ sixth episode, Peacemaker encounters a dystopian reality where the dance’s motions carry a sinister ideological weight. This revelation prompted Epic’s immediate action to distance the game from the imagery.

Gunn had previously announced Peacemaker’s Fortnite inclusion in a social media post, unaware (or potentially aware) of the impending narrative twist. The timing suggests coordination between the show’s plot and the collaboration, though Epic claims no prior knowledge of the gesture’s hidden connotation.

Questions remain about oversight during the collaboration: Did Warner Bros. disclose the emote’s future significance? Was this an intentional marketing ploy by Gunn, leveraging Fortnite’s platform for shock value post-launch? The incident may lead Epic to tighten cross-promotional vetting processes, especially when adapting content from evolving storylines.