After making a controversial joke about a man trying to trade his girlfriend for store credit towards a PlayStation 5, Gamestop It faced a public backlash which eventually led to the company pulling the post from social media platforms. While GameStop was once a storefront focused primarily on selling physical copies of video games, the company has had to change its strategy in recent years. In addition to new and used video games, consumers can find a wide range of pop culture products at GameStop's physical locations, such as trading cards, Funko Pops, clothing, and many other products.
In early 2026, GameStop revealed that it was closing hundreds of stores in the United States, a sudden move that came as a surprise to many employees and customers. When some consumers showed up at locations marked for closure, they were greeted by a sign announcing the store was closed. The notice included a coupon customers could use at other locations that remained open; Many people felt it was in bad taste. After receiving a lot of backlash from customers over the closure and related coupons, the company appears to have found itself in hot water once again for a social media post gone wrong.
A gaming fan builds the incredible entertainment of a GameStop store in his own home
An inspired gamer recreates a GameStop inside their own home by building an impressive version of the store in their basement.
GameStop removes controversial post after backlash
GameStop recently took to multiple social media platforms to share a story that was meant to be a joke. Unfortunately, the post missed the mark and instead provoked a fair bit of public backlash. As of writing, GameStop appears to have removed the post from its official social media platforms, though that hasn't stopped the conversation it generated. The original post claimed that a man came into one of the company's stores looking to trade his girlfriend for store credit to buy a PlayStation 5. The original post said the woman “appeared to be in good condition” but that the store's “system does not allow for human exchanges.” While some people thought it might be an attempt to follow up GameStop's trade-in with a joke on any promotion, many others took issue with the post.
Find all 10 pairs
get started
Find all 10 pairs
Shortly after the post went up, many people simply said the joke wasn't funny. Others were quick to point out the post's connection to human trafficking, a very serious topic that doesn't lend itself to humor. In a post on Reddit, one person even suggested that the image itself appears to have been created by AI. The original post claimed that the woman behind the counter is an employee named Nevah, a well-known fictional AI character who appears in posts by the satirical Facebook page Celina 52 Truck Stop. Some people were quick to declare the post to be “AI slop”, poking fun at how the shelves look so well stocked for GameStop. The use of AI in gaming has proven to be a controversial issue for many consumers, leading some gamers to call GameStop's use of the technology “out of touch”.
This isn't the first time GameStop has faced controversy with a social media post that missed the mark, with the company recently commenting on Sophie Turner's first official look as Amazon's Lara Croft. The actress is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Sansa Stark in the hit television series. Game of ThronesBut that may change in the future Tomb Raider Show me In the image, Sophie Turner is in her full Lara Croft costume, sporting a dark teal tank top, black shorts, and round sunglasses. It's a classic look for the character and the reception from fans seems to be positive. However, GameStop reposted the image on Twitter with the caption “This is not Lara Croft”. Many fans were immediately displeased with the claim, with one person suggesting the company had a bigger problem to address, given the hundreds of store closures. The company has received a lot of criticism from gamers recently, with many still hopeful that GameStop will find a way to benefit both customers and employees.
