Universal Orlando Resort’s newest theme park, Epic Universe, is just weeks away from opening. But one video from the park’s SUPER NINTENDO WORLD has sparked an unexpected controversy, leaving many asking: Did Epic Universe really say “F*** You” to guests?
Epic Universe, Universal’s highly anticipated third park, is located just steps from the Stella Nova Resort and invites guests to immerse themselves in five distinct lands: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe. Among the highlights of the park are Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, Monsters Unchained – The Frankenstein Experiment, and Mario Kart – Bowser’s Challenge. The park is also home to jaw-dropping animatronics, exclusive merchandise, and unforgettable character experiences.
Recently, Universal Orlando Resort dropped restrictions on photo and video sharing for Team Members and guests visiting Epic Universe during previews, allowing content to flood the internet. Most of the content has been overwhelmingly positive, showcasing features like a Toothless meet-and-greet and incredibly realistic Universal Monsters animatronics. However, one video from SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, posted by Instagram user @kevin.heimbach, has garnered significant attention for an unintended reason.
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The video highlights one of the digital effects used in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, where guests can use exclusive power-up wristbands to unlock special effects throughout the land. One of those effects, which involves pixel art of Toad, appears to show the character giving guests the middle finger.
The video quickly went viral, amassing over 50,000 likes and comments, sparking widespread discussion. Some Universal Orlando Resort fans speculated that the park would remove the effect before the grand opening, given the attention it had received online.
“I wonder how long that’s going to last,” @simbaonetowilson wrote.
“Yes because posting this will totally make them not change it,” @kbump88 replied.
However, others defended the park, offering an alternate interpretation of the pixelated gesture.
“That’s actually supposed to be a thumbs up,” @melvin.is.the.name explained. “…It’s homage to the original 8-bit days. It’s how he looked when he always told you the princess was in another castle. Surprised people are thinking this is something new.”
“Bro that’s an 8-bit thumbs up,” @itsjago agreed.
Some fans even criticized the Instagram post for ruining the surprise for others, with @itslife.withcaleb writing, “Not a secret anymore. God forbid people find shit on their own. Some content creator has to ruin the surprise for everyone.”
Epic Universe will officially open on May 22, 2025, and tickets are already available.
Which Epic Universe land is your favorite? Disney Fanatic would love to hear from you in the comments!
