Tripwire Interactive CEO John Gibson steps down amid severe backlash

Alan Wilson has been appointed the new Interim CEO while leadership decisions are made.

14

John Gibson has stepped down as CEO of Tripwire Interactive following backlash from the community and staff in regards to his approval of Texas’ recent anti-abortion law. Tripwire Interactive released a statement addressing the change in leadership as Alan Wilson takes up the mantle of Interim CEO.

Tripwire Interactive released a statement on Monday, September 6, 2021 announcing that John Gibson has stepped down as CEO of Tripwire Interactive. In his stead, Alan Wilson will be Interim CEO. Wilson, a co-founding member and current Vice President, has been with the company since its creation back in 2005. In this new role, Wilson will work with leadership to “take steps with employees and partners to address their concerns” and will even have a company-wide meeting to generate an open dialogue between employees and leadership.

For those playing catch up, John Gibson took to Twitter on September 5, 2021 to praise the new Texas law that bans abortion after six weeks and “deputizes private citizens to sue anyone who aids in the procedure,” as Jason Schreier puts it in his tweet regarding the recent news. You can read Gibson's tweet below.

The games industry and community was aghast that such a prolific developer would come out in support of these anti-choice laws which take healthcare and freedoms from women. The response from Tripwire Interactive was quick and decisive, with responses to the Twitter post praising the company’s stance. Be sure to keep it locked to Shacknews as this story develops.

Guides Editor

Hailing from the land down under, Sam Chandler brings a bit of the southern hemisphere flair to his work. After bouncing round a few universities, securing a bachelor degree, and entering the video game industry, he's found his new family here at Shacknews as a Guides Editor. There's nothing he loves more than crafting a guide that will help someone. If you need help with a guide, or notice something not quite right, you can message him on X: @SamuelChandler 

From The Chatty
  • reply
    September 6, 2021 6:17 PM

    Sam Chandler posted a new article, Tripwire Interactive CEO John Gibson steps down amid severe backlash

    • reply
      September 6, 2021 6:41 PM

      He’ll be stepping way down. Maybe he can join the My Pillow company?

    • reply
      September 6, 2021 9:31 PM

      [deleted]

      • reply
        September 6, 2021 9:38 PM

        Regarding B: He didn't express a religious belief. He expressed political support for a specific, particularly abominable law. His tweet explicitly couched it as political, not religious.

        Mind you, I don't believe religious beliefs should get special treatment either. Shitty beliefs and attitudes are shitty beliefs and attitudes.

        • reply
          September 6, 2021 10:00 PM

          [deleted]

          • reply
            September 7, 2021 6:15 AM

            It may well be based on his religious beliefs, but the way he wrote his tweet was 100% political.

        • reply
          September 6, 2021 10:36 PM

          I think Twitter makes it different.

          If he told his plumber that he agrees with the ruling, no one would care. But he went on soap box and told the whole world via Twitter and the whole world does not agree. And it got max

          He is still entitled to his beliefs even now, but the owners of their company are also entitled to not work with someone who poisons their brand and revenue and could fire him for that. As a CEO he should have been more careful.

          Don’t post controversial things online especially if you have something to lose.

          Someone could need to step down for voicing disagreement with this law too.

      • reply
        September 6, 2021 10:07 PM

        I understand how you feel. I think it's good there are ramifications like this, but I also can recognize this will just feed into him feeling persecuted and won't be a teachable moment

        • reply
          September 6, 2021 10:37 PM

          He won’t learn a thing. I’m certain.

          • reply
            September 7, 2021 2:50 AM

            I'd be shocked if twitter beatdowns have ever led to anyone learning anything.

          • reply
            September 7, 2021 4:28 AM

            Does this kind of action ever help the target long in the end, is that even a goal? I'm not in anyway saying I'm on his side, or anyone for that matter when they get called like this. I'm just doubtful whether we actually believe that anyone comes out the other side an improved person.

            • reply
              September 7, 2021 4:54 AM

              That assumes it was possible for him to come out of this as an improved person.

              • reply
                September 7, 2021 5:10 AM

                probably not but he might be more motivated to keep his opinions to himself.

      • reply
        September 7, 2021 12:20 AM

        He wasn't fired for holding a religious belief, but for expressing a bad political one.

      • reply
        September 7, 2021 5:09 AM

        I think the issue with B is CEO is different than any other employee and have different rules to follow. Also he wasn't fired, he stepped down. Which means its costing the company a lot of money to get him to leave.

        • reply
          September 7, 2021 6:17 AM

          Yeah you can maybe make the argument that the dude in the mail room doesn't represent the company, it's harder to make that argument about the CEO.

    • reply
      September 6, 2021 11:44 PM

      Karma motherfucker.

      • reply
        September 7, 2021 3:54 AM

        "intolerant buddies". What

      • reply
        September 7, 2021 5:49 AM

        i lived to see the day where CliffyB is right on twitter wow

    • reply
      September 7, 2021 5:32 AM

      damn that was fast

    • reply
      September 7, 2021 6:06 AM

      Gohn Jibson

      • reply
        September 7, 2021 6:14 AM

        Gohn Jobson. Gone job son. Job gone, son.

Hello, Meet Lola