diff --git a/cogs/cOREmands.py b/cogs/cOREmands.py
index 8c40a92..0e5d4df 100644
--- a/cogs/cOREmands.py
+++ b/cogs/cOREmands.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 import discord
 from discord.ext import commands
 
-from util import app_is_staff, is_staff, create_deletion_embed, reply
+from util import app_is_staff, is_staff, create_deletion_embed, reply, escape_nickname
 
 
 class COREmands(commands.Cog):
@@ -35,10 +35,10 @@ async def trust(self, ctx, member: discord.Member):
         role = ctx.guild.get_role(self.bot.config["roles"]["trusted"])
         if role in member.roles:
             await member.remove_roles(role)
-            await reply(ctx, f"{member.display_name} is no longer Trusted.")
+            await reply(ctx, f"{escape_nickname(member.display_name)} is no longer Trusted.")
         else:
             await member.add_roles(role)
-            await reply(ctx, f"{member.display_name} is now Trusted.")
+            await reply(ctx, f"{escape_nickname(member.display_name)} is now Trusted.")
 
 async def setup(bot):
     await bot.add_cog(COREmands(bot))
diff --git a/cogs/errorhandler.py b/cogs/errorhandler.py
index b7b8300..e25b3b5 100644
--- a/cogs/errorhandler.py
+++ b/cogs/errorhandler.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 from discord.ext import commands
 
-from util import NoRelayException, reply
+from util import NoRelayException, reply, user_log_repr
 
 
 class ErrorHandler(commands.Cog):
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ async def respond(message):
             )
         elif isinstance(error, commands.CommandNotFound):
             self.bot.logger.info(
-                f"User '{ctx.author.display_name}' attempted to run an unrecognized command: '{ctx.message.content[1:]}'"
+                f"User {user_log_repr(ctx.author)} attempted to run an unrecognized command: '{ctx.message.content[1:]}'"
             )
             await respond("Unrecognized command :'(")
         elif isinstance(error, commands.CommandOnCooldown):
diff --git a/cogs/moderation.py b/cogs/moderation.py
index 32f310d..cadb184 100644
--- a/cogs/moderation.py
+++ b/cogs/moderation.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 from discord.ext import commands, tasks
 import typing
 
-from util import is_staff, app_is_staff, create_deletion_embed, reformat_relay_chat
+from util import is_staff, app_is_staff, create_deletion_embed, reformat_relay_chat, escape_nickname
 from timeutil import UserFriendlyTime
 
 class Moderation(commands.Cog):
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ async def tempban(self, ctx, user: typing.Union[discord.Member, discord.User], *
         embed.set_thumbnail(url="https://i.imgflip.com/44o9ir.png")
         embed.add_field(name="Staff Member", value=ctx.author.mention, inline=False)
         embed.add_field(name="User", value=user.mention, inline=True)
-        embed.add_field(name="Display Name", value=user.display_name, inline=True)
+        embed.add_field(name="Display Name", value=escape_nickname(user.display_name), inline=True)
         embed.add_field(name="Reason", value=reason if reason else "No reason provided", inline=False)
         embed.timestamp = ctx.message.created_at
 
diff --git a/cogs/notifications.py b/cogs/notifications.py
index 50ba1a7..5b9bbac 100644
--- a/cogs/notifications.py
+++ b/cogs/notifications.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import discord
 from discord.ext import commands
 
+from util import escape_nickname
+
 
 class RoleButton(discord.ui.Button):
     def __init__(self, role):
@@ -13,13 +15,13 @@ async def callback(self, interaction: discord.Interaction):
         if self.role in interaction.user.roles:
             await interaction.user.remove_roles(self.role)
             await interaction.response.send_message(
-                f"{interaction.user.display_name}, you are no longer subscribed to {self.role.name} notifications.",
+                f"{escape_nickname(interaction.user.display_name)}, you are no longer subscribed to {self.role.name} notifications.",
                 ephemeral=True,
             )
         else:
             await interaction.user.add_roles(self.role)
             await interaction.response.send_message(
-                f"{interaction.user.display_name}, you are now subscribed to {self.role.name} notifications.",
+                f"{escape_nickname(interaction.user.display_name)}, you are now subscribed to {self.role.name} notifications.",
                 ephemeral=True,
             )
 
diff --git a/cogs/randcommands.py b/cogs/randcommands.py
index 102ad81..fa905ba 100644
--- a/cogs/randcommands.py
+++ b/cogs/randcommands.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 from fractal import fractal
 from spirograph import spirograph
 from brainfuck import process_brainfuck
-from util import is_staff, BaseConversionError, baseconvert, reply
+from util import is_staff, BaseConversionError, baseconvert, reply, escape_nickname
 
 
 class RandCommands(commands.Cog):
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ async def convert_func(ctx, number: str):
             # otherwise keep the generic text.
             except BaseConversionError as err:
                 raise err from None
-            except ValueError as e:
+            except ValueError:
                 await reply(ctx, f"Invalid input number for base {from_base}")
 
         for from_base, from_value in bases.items():
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@ async def ping(self, ctx):
         message = await reply(ctx, "Testing...")
         latency = (perf_counter() - start) * 1000
         await message.edit(
-            content=f"{ctx.author.display_name}: Pong!\nLatency: {latency:.2f}ms\n"
+            content=f"{escape_nickname(ctx.author.display_name)}: Pong!\n"
+                    f"Latency: {latency:.2f}ms\n"
                     f"API Latency: {self.bot.latency * 1000:.2f}ms"
         )
 
@@ -347,7 +348,7 @@ async def spirograph(self, ctx, seed: str):
     @commands.command(help="Be mean to someone. >:D")
     async def insult(self, ctx, target: str = None):
         if target is None:
-            target = ctx.author.display_name
+            target = escape_nickname(ctx.author.display_name)
         message = choice(self.bot.config["insults"])
         await reply(ctx, message.format(user=target))
 
diff --git a/cogs/reminders.py b/cogs/reminders.py
index 2c10c93..002a1c7 100644
--- a/cogs/reminders.py
+++ b/cogs/reminders.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 from discord.ext import commands, tasks
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 
-from util import is_discord_member, return_or_truncate
+from util import escape_nickname, is_discord_member, return_or_truncate
 from timeutil import UserFriendlyTime
 from paginator import EmbedPaginatorSession
 
@@ -41,10 +41,10 @@ async def my_reminders(self, ctx):
         """List all reminders set by the user."""
         reminders = await self.bot.database.get_reminders(ctx.author.id)
         if not reminders:
-            return await ctx.reply(f"{ctx.author.display_name}: You have no reminders set.")
+            return await ctx.reply(f"{escape_nickname(ctx.author.display_name)}: You have no reminders set.")
 
         if len(reminders) > 5:
-            embeds = [discord.Embed(title=f"{ctx.author.display_name}'s Reminders", color=discord.Color.blue()) for _ in range((len(reminders) - 1) // 5 + 1)]
+            embeds = [discord.Embed(title=f"{escape_nickname(ctx.author.display_name)}'s Reminders", color=discord.Color.blue()) for _ in range((len(reminders) - 1) // 5 + 1)]
             for i, reminder in enumerate(reminders):
                 embeds[i // 5].add_field(
                     name=f"Reminder at {reminder[2].strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')}",
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ async def my_reminders(self, ctx):
             paginator = EmbedPaginatorSession(ctx, *embeds)
             await paginator.run()
         else:
-            embed = discord.Embed(title=f"{ctx.author.display_name}'s Reminders", color=discord.Color.blue())
+            embed = discord.Embed(title=f"{escape_nickname(ctx.author.display_name)}'s Reminders", color=discord.Color.blue())
             for message, _, timestamp in reminders:
                     embed.add_field(
                         name=f"Reminder at {timestamp.strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')}",
diff --git a/cogs/timers.py b/cogs/timers.py
index c984772..fc144eb 100644
--- a/cogs/timers.py
+++ b/cogs/timers.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import discord
 from discord.ext import commands
 
-from util import is_discord_member, reply
+from util import is_discord_member, reply, escape_nickname
 
 
 def pretty_timedelta(delta):
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ async def list_timers(self, ctx, member: discord.Member = None):
             if member == ctx.author:
                 await reply(ctx, f"Your timers:\n{timers}")
             else:
-                await reply(ctx, f"{member.display_name}'s timers:\n{timers}")
+                await reply(ctx, f"{escape_nickname(member.display_name)}'s timers:\n{timers}")
         else:
             await reply(ctx, "No timers found.")
 
diff --git a/patrick.py b/patrick.py
index d0402e3..386cd86 100644
--- a/patrick.py
+++ b/patrick.py
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@
 from logger import StreamLogFormatter, setup_logger
 from util import (find_automod_matches, is_admin, load_automod_regexes,
                   process_custom_command, reformat_relay_chat, split_list,
-                  reply, create_automod_embed, RelayMember)
+                  reply, create_automod_embed, RelayMember, escape_nickname,
+                  user_log_repr)
 
 load_dotenv(Path(__file__).parent / ".env")
 TOKEN: str = getenv("TOKEN")
@@ -218,7 +219,7 @@ async def on_message(self, message: discord.Message) -> None:
         if message.guild is not None and message.content.startswith("/link"):
             # If the message starts with /link, it's probably someone trying to link their account but not selecting the command from the popup.
             await message.channel.send(
-                f"{message.author.display_name}: Please use the `/link` command from the command popup as you type. Do not type it out manually."
+                f"{escape_nickname(message.author.display_name)}: Please use the `/link` command from the command popup as you type. Do not type it out manually."
             )
             await message.delete()
             return
@@ -229,7 +230,7 @@ async def on_message(self, message: discord.Message) -> None:
             matches = find_automod_matches(self, part)
             if matches:
                 logger.info(
-                    f"Automod triggered for user {message.author.display_name} with message {message.content}"
+                    f"Automod triggered for user {user_log_repr(message.author)} with message {message.content}"
                 )
                 channel = message.guild.get_channel(
                     self.config["channels"]["automod"]
@@ -269,7 +270,7 @@ async def process_commands(self, message: discord.Message) -> None:
             else:
                 # A prefix was found, but no (custom) command was found. This means the user is trying to run a command that does not exist.
                 self.logger.info(
-                    f"User '{ctx.author.display_name}' attempted to run an unrecognized command: '{ctx.message.content[1:]}'"
+                    f"User {user_log_repr(ctx.author)} attempted to run an unrecognized command: '{ctx.message.content[1:]}'"
                 )
                 return await reply(ctx, "Unrecognized command :'(")
 
@@ -277,7 +278,7 @@ async def process_commands(self, message: discord.Message) -> None:
             # The context is valid when a command and prefix was found.
             # This is provided by discord.py and ensures that the context is valid for regular command processing
             self.logger.info(
-                f"User '{message.author.display_name}' ran command '{ctx.command.name}'"
+                f"User {user_log_repr(message.author)} ran command '{ctx.command.name}'"
             )
             await self.database.add_command_history(
                 message.author.display_name, ctx.command.name
diff --git a/util.py b/util.py
index 11ad552..9581f33 100644
--- a/util.py
+++ b/util.py
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
 from discord.ext import commands
 
 
+DISCORD_NICKNAME_ESCAPE_RE = re.compile(r'([\\*#_`>~|\[\]()-])')
+
+
 class NoRelayException(Exception):
     ...
 
@@ -26,6 +29,23 @@ class RelayMember(discord.Member):
     """
 
 
+def user_log_repr(user: discord.User | discord.Member) -> str:
+    """
+    Create a formatted string using the un-escaped nickname as well as the user
+    id, so log messages are the same as in chattore.
+    """
+
+    return f"'{user.display_name}' ({user.id})"
+
+
+def escape_nickname(name: str) -> str:
+    """
+    Escape all characters in a discord nickname so they don't convert to markdown.
+    """
+
+    return DISCORD_NICKNAME_ESCAPE_RE.sub(r"\\\1", name)
+
+
 def return_or_truncate(text, max_length):
     """Takes a string and truncates it to a maximum length, adding ellipsis if truncated.
     If the string is shorter than the maximum length, it returns the original string.
@@ -63,7 +83,7 @@ def reformat_relay_chat(bot, message) -> typing.Optional[discord.Message]:
         author_name, content = match.groups()
         message.author = copy(message.author)
         message.author.__class__ = RelayMember
-        message.author.nick = author_name
+        message.author.nick = author_name.replace("\\", "")
         message.content = content
         return message
     return None
@@ -85,12 +105,14 @@ async def process_custom_command(bot, message) -> bool:
     for prefix in bot.command_prefix:
         if message.content.removeprefix(prefix) in commands:
             bot.logger.info(
-                f"User '{message.author.display_name}' ran custom command '{message.content[1:]}'"
+                f"User {user_log_repr(message.author)} ran custom command '{message.content[1:]}'"
             )
             await message.channel.send(
-                f"{message.author.display_name}: {choice(commands[message.content.removeprefix(prefix)])}"
+                f"{escape_nickname(message.author.display_name)}: {choice(commands[message.content.removeprefix(prefix)])}"
             )
             await bot.database.add_command_history(
+                # No need to escape name here, this is not sent immediately. Also, it might
+                # cause problems with the current state of the DB.
                 message.author.display_name, message.content.removeprefix(prefix)
             )
             return True
@@ -327,7 +349,7 @@ async def create_deletion_embed(
     embed.set_thumbnail(url="https://i.imgflip.com/44o9ir.png")
     embed.add_field(name="Staff Member", value=staff.mention, inline=False)
     embed.add_field(name="User", value=message.author.mention, inline=True)
-    embed.add_field(name="Display Name", value=message.author.display_name, inline=True)
+    embed.add_field(name="Display Name", value=escape_nickname(message.author.display_name), inline=True)
     embed.add_field(name="Reason", value=reason, inline=False)
     if len(message.message_snapshots) > 0:
         embed.add_field(
@@ -408,4 +430,4 @@ async def reply(ctx, message=None, is_reply=False, is_silent=False, **kwargs):
     if message is None:
         message = ""
     target = ctx.reply if is_reply else ctx.send
-    return await target(f"{ctx.author.display_name}: {message}", silent=is_silent, **kwargs)
+    return await target(f"{escape_nickname(ctx.author.display_name)}: {message}", silent=is_silent, **kwargs)