Following the launch of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle‘s new DLC, “Order of Giants,” Bethesda swiftly deleted a social media post from September 14. The post featured a brief clip of Indy gently stroking a cat and quipping, “You don’t care much about those fascists, do you?”
This removal came amidst a significant online reaction. Many users perceived the clip as a deliberate reference to conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, especially given its unfortunate timing, just days after the news of his fatal shooting on September 10.
The controversial clip, originally captioned “good kitty,” was seemingly part of a broader social media campaign for the DLC’s launch. Bethesda’s official X account had been consistently sharing short video snippets and images related to the game’s expansion. It’s also worth noting that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is set in 1937, a period when fascist regimes like those of Hitler and Mussolini were actively in power, providing historical context for the game’s themes.
Screenshots and discussions surrounding the deleted video rapidly spread across various social media platforms, including X, Facebook, and TikTok. While some interpreted it as an intentional reference to Kirk due to the timing of his recent death at Utah Valley University campus, it’s highly probable that the clip’s release was coincidental and not directly related to him, given its integration into a wider, pre-planned promotional push.
Political tensions on platforms like X and Bluesky have been fraught since the shooting of Kirk, a prominent and often polarizing figure known for his viral debate content. His death has fueled considerable speculation and further deepened divisions across the US and globally regarding the killing and the alleged shooter’s politics. Tyler Robinson, the suspected shooter, is expected to face charges this week.
We have reached out to Bethesda for an official statement and will provide updates as soon as we receive a response.