Epic Removes Peacemaker Dance Emote From Fortnite After the Show’s Recent Twist
Peacemaker continues to make his rounds across the videogame landscape, after his appearance in Mortal Kombat 1, the DC antihero was added to Fortnite earlier this month as part of a crossover with the ongoing Peacemaker TV series, written and directed by DC Studios co-chief James Gunn. However, one of the cosmetics from the bundle, a dance emote titled “Peaceful Hips” has now been removed after the latest episode of the show revealed a darker meaning behind it.
Spoiler Warning: Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 6
As reported by Eurogamer, the emote was quickly pulled from Fortnite following episode six of season two. Epic confirmed via Fortnite Status on X that it had begun investigating “our partner’s creative intentions in this collab emote.” Players who had already purchased the emote were automatically refunded.
We're disabling the Peaceful Hips Emote in Fortnite as we inquire into our partner's creative intentions in this collab emote. Assuming it's not coming back, we'll issue refunds in the next few days. Sorry folks.
— Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus) September 28, 2025
On the surface, the dance may have seemed like a quirky, innocent animation. But in episode six, context changes everything: Peacemaker finds himself in an alternate Nazi-controlled universe, where the dance is revealed to mimic arm motions forming a swastika pattern.
The implication was severe enough for Epic Games to remove the emote outright, issuing refunds and halting its distribution. The situation raises questions about how much Warner Bros. and James Gunn communicated the emote’s true meaning during development.
James Gunn himself had promoted the collaboration in advance, posting about Peacemaker’s arrival in Fortnite on X. At the time, few could have imagined the darker subtext that would later emerge.
Peacemaker has landed in @Fortnite and he’s serious about PEACE g*ddamnit! Check out his bundle, complete with Peacemaker’s best friend Eagly and a peace-spreading, hip-swaying emote or two ;) #peacemaker #fortniteshop pic.twitter.com/tUNNsqhtjF
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) September 14, 2025
Whether Gunn deliberately withheld the context to preserve the show’s plot twist, or if there was a miscommunication during production, remains unclear. What is certain is that the reveal has sparked conversation about how Epic vets collaborations, especially when millions of younger players are involved.
While it’s unlikely that this single incident will end Epic’s partnerships with Warner Bros. or James Gunn, it may lead to stricter oversight for licensed content. Collaborations between TV, film, and gaming studios are growing rapidly, but this episode shows just how risky hidden context can be when adapted into games played by children worldwide.
Whether this was an unfortunate oversight or a deliberate publicity stunt, the removal of the emote highlights the delicate balance of trust between developers, licensors, and the gaming community.
Do you think Epic should have been informed earlier - or was this always destined to be a controversy once the episode aired?
