Apparently a Scottish border town is worried that Grand Theft Auto 5 many spoil their reputation in the eyes of the world. The town, Hawick, shares a name with a featured character in GTA V who is portrayed as a “druggie hipster”.
In an interview with BBC, local councilor David Paterson was quoted, “I am absolutely disgusted – there is a lot of history and a lot of good things happening in the town. We have got a lot of good things planned for this coming year. It is going to destroy the good reputation of the town. Why did they pick on Hawick, it is a lovely town? It is perceptions, it is how people will perceive the town. They might perceive Hawick in a bad light and Hawick is a lovely place – a lot of people are very, very proud of Hawick.”
Hawick Member of Scottish Parliament John Lamont added, “I, like many other Hawick residents, was shocked to hear that the name of the town had been used in Grand Theft Auto V. Not only is it a game which includes violence, sex and drugs, but the game’s producers themselves describe the area of Hawick in the game as having a ‘drug addict hipster vibe’.
While some may take the view that any publicity is good publicity, I am sure that many local residents will see this as an insensitive move from Rockstar North,” and added, “They clearly do not know Hawick well, and that is why I have invited them to meet with me at my office on the town’s High Street. Hawick is one of the most beautiful towns in Scotland and I am sure that by showing them the town and telling them of its proud history they will realise the mistake they have made.”
Via: VG247