Kara Lynne · @KaraLynne0326
22nd Jan 2023 from TwitLonger
I'm ready to chat about the LRG situation
I know that this is coming a bit late but I really wanted to sit down and write this out. I am not angry, but I am hurt. I admit that I have tried to film this a few different times but my feelings did get the best of me and I had trouble getting through it without crying. So here we are.
First and foremost, thank you so much for the absolute outpour of love and support. I truly cannot express how grateful I am to each and every person who reached out to me, a complete stranger, to show your solidarity with my situation.
Now I suppose it’s time to get to the events leading up to my termination from Limited Run Games on January 6th, 2023. My day started by waking up to a message from a co-worker with a link to the post that has now circulated the internet and demanded my termination from the company. I can honestly say that it came out of left field. That single message was the only one I received up until I was requested to join a call at 4:30pm. The call in which I was informed that I was being released from the company. I had reached out to a couple of my bosses to inform them that I had seen what was going on and wasn’t sure what to do. I was a wreck. I didn’t receive a response until the request for the call.
In that call, I will say that there were a lot of emotions. I could tell they didn’t want to do what they were doing and even said they didn’t want to. They were being pressured from elsewhere.
From what I was told there were no other options presented. But they are providing me with a decent severance and letting me keep my health insurance for a couple more months.
I had never been written up or reprimanded. I had never abused my power or personal opinions on the various social channels. I even refrained from commenting or interacting with any political content or controversial topics on my personal social media accounts. This one isolated incident was apparently all it took. At least that is what I have been led to believe. If there was another reason, I was not informed. They didn’t want the bad publicity and I can understand that. Unfortunately, I feel like that backfired on them.
The craziest thing about the whole situation was that we were already in the midst of hiring a new community manager because I had expressed in the previous months that I was feeling burnt out and wanted to try something new. Social media in general was taking a significant toll on my daily life and mental health and was in need of a change. January was going to be my last month as the community manager.
A common question I keep getting asked is if I’ll be taking legal action against LRG. No, I will not. North Carolina is an “at-will” state and companies are able to fire anyone for any reason or even for no reason at all. I still have a special place in my heart for LRG. They were my first step into the gaming industry and I am thankful for that. I still consider many of the people there my friends and wish them well. Josh and Douglas fought to make sure I was taken care of. Please stop attacking Josh and Doug in a personal manner. They don’t deserve the harassment and I have no ill will against them.
On to the next topic. I truly believe that everyone has the right to love who they want to love and be who they want to be as long as they are not hurting anyone else. My only hesitation is when children get involved. That’s literally it. As long as you are kind and don’t pressure your own opinion on others(from any political side or religion), I believe everyone has the right to be happy in this world. I have friends and acquaintances who are non-binary and have even roomed with trans and LGBTQ individuals in the past at various events. It honestly doesn’t bother me nor should it.
I have no hatred toward anyone who was involved in the call for my termination. If you personally and truly felt like I had hurt the community in some way, then you have the right to that opinion, but know that I do not see it that way. I just wish someone had reached out and attempted to start a conversation rather than jump straight to accusations.
Honestly, I have no idea what my future will bring me. I’m not sure if I’ll attempt to pursue content creation again, get back into the gaming industry, or try to find something new and fulfilling. All I know is that I won't let this situation bring me down. I am the only person who knows what my heart feels and what my values are. I refuse to let an anonymous person on the internet hurt me or ruin my life. All I know is that I will come out of this stronger.
If we could take one thing from this situation it would be to bring to light the dangers of cancel culture. I have always been opposed to it and have voiced my disagreement with how it is handled. It can be hurtful to all parties involved. If you don’t like something, vote with your wallet and move along. There’s no need for vicious attacks on people or companies. Sending horrible messages to a company's online social platform can take a huge mental toll on those people who have to read those. People who had no hand in the situation. Please just think before you post. We’re all guilty of posting something fueled by emotion, but fail to consider just how many other bystanders may be negatively affected. Let’s just try to be better.
Thank you again to everyone who has reached out or shared your support in some way. You have been a light in such a dark time in my life and I am eternally grateful.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be a guest on various podcasts. If you would like to have me, please feel free to reach out. I’ll make sure to share when and where you’ll be able to find me.
I will see you soon. <3
Kara Lynne