Iconic Halo announcer Jeff Steitzer tells studios to stop being ‘p*ssies’ about inclusivity
Jeff Steitzer / Halo. (Cameo / Xbox)
Iconic Halo announcer, actor and ally Jeff Steitzer wants studios to stop being “p*ssies” about inclusivity.
Steitzer was speaking to Gaming Bible in response to the Cameo video he recorded where he was asked to say “trans rights” in the Halo announcer voice.
In the cameo, he went on to give his views about diversity and human rights. “The struggles of trans people reminds me so much of all the other struggles that I’ve been witness to over the many years that I have been alive,” he said.
“And now I see trans folks like yourself who basically want nothing more than to enjoy the equality that everybody else aspires to and which I for one think you should have.”
Steitzer elaborated on this support for marginalised communities with Gaming Bible.
“It was nothing I had thought about or scripted,” he said of the Cameo. “It was just my genuine response.”
His opinions spilled out from “frustration” at Trump’s presidency and the lack of empathy shown to marginalised people.
When asked what he would say to studios concerned about alienating their audiences by featuring inclusive stories, he responded “don’t be such p*ssies, frankly”.
As the cameo had been requested by a trans person who was also a big fan of Halo, Steitzer recognised how diverse fanbases of all games can be.
“Let’s sort of take that into account and recognise that, you know, you have a much larger audience than you think you do and they might like to see themselves reflected not only in the game proper, but… in the management of the various companies that make these games,” he said.
The Halo announcer is positive about the future, though, and believes change is coming, “it’s just a matter of how quickly”.
“I think that representation is inevitable,” he said, relating the game industry to changes in theatre. “I mean, we are seeing older white male artistic directors either leaving their jobs, are being pushed out all over the country at regional theatres and they’re being replaced by women, finally, and people of colour, thank God.”
Steitzer also spoke to marginalised players receiving harassment and abuse online through toxic gaming communities.
“My heart goes out to them,” he said. “Nobody should suffer abuse because of who they are.
“I don’t have a solution except to say to all those people who are attacking them who might be hearing this who are people who play the game, it’s like just put yourself in their shoes and imagine what that would feel like.”
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