GameStop’s NFT Marketplace took down an NFT that clearly resembles the harrowing ‘9/11 Falling Man’, who threw himself out of the World Trade Center to escape the burning building.
The tasteless NFT, created by an artist known as Jules, features the GameStop astronaut mascot falling in the same pose and background as the victim of 9/11, who has not been officially identified.
The NFT was up on GameStop’s new marketplace for two weeks and minted 25 times on July 12, initially selling for $991 before dropping to $46, Gizmodo reported.
GameStop said the NFT had been taken “completely” off the market and had revoked the artist’s ability to mint any future NFTs.
“This user has already had the minting ability removed from their account and we have already been in direct contact with the creator about these actions,” GameStop said in response to the outcry over NFT.
NFT, created by artist Jules, features the GameStop astronaut mascot (left) falling with the same pose and background as the victim of 9/11 (right)
It was on sale for two weeks, originally for $991 (above) before dropping to $46, as GameStop takes a 2.25 percent cut from each NFT sale
GameStop said the NFT had been taken “completely” off the market and had revoked the artist’s ability to mint any future NFTs
According to measures from the marketplace, the NFT had been sold at least 17 times. It was not immediately clear how many sold for $991 and how many for $46.
GameStop takes a 2.25 percent cut from each NFT sale.
The company did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
The fact that NFT was up for so long had caused an uproar online, with many calling out GameStop for hitting “rock bottom” when it profited from NFT.
A Twitter user with the handle TaxBeast wrote: “I’ve often thought about the process of how a company decides to join the social media trend of creating memes out of anything, including national tragedies, and now we’ve officially reached the bottom with a NFT of 9/11 from GameStop.’
Many took to social media to call out the offensive NFT and condemn GameStop for selling it
Another Twitter user with the handle The Spiffing Brit also condemned any profit on the tragic photo, tweeting: “If this is what your business needs to do to stay afloat, then wholeheartedly f*** your business.”
A Twitter user with the handle Foxxy Steve said he thought it was all a joke and couldn’t believe that NFTs were actually for sale on the market.
“Was told about the falling man 9/11 NFT GameStop put out and thought it was a joke,” he wrote. “It appears to be real. What a disgusting company.
Rob Parks, another Twitter user, said he was simply at a loss for words at the gut-wrenching decision to print the NFT, a sentiment echoed by many online.
“GameStop is selling an NFT of a man who jumped from one of the towers on 9/11. I have no words, he tweeted.
