Warning: this post will discuss matters relating to sexual harassment
Figure 1: Employees staged a staff walkout on November 16 to demand fair treatment for staff
The current lawsuit against Activision Blizzard has shown some absolutely awful and horrific behavior that took place across numerous studios and offices. Many women were allegedly sexually harassed, assaulted, and traumatized, while those in higher ranks at the corporations involved did little to nothing to stop or prevent this behavior.
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) filed the lawsuit on July 20 after a long investigation revealed reports of many women being harassed and abused on a regular basis while working at Activision Blizzard.
There has been a significant amount of backlash since the lawsuit was filed, with former and present staff coming out to reveal more instances of abuse, apologize to individuals who were harmed, or remove themselves from the matter.
This blog post will give a rundown on the Activision Blizzard scandal and also show the prevalence of sexism within the gaming industry by summarizing what the lawsuit alleges, how Activision Blizzard has responded to the current situation, and what has happened as a result of the scandal.
What are the allegations?
To begin with, the lawsuit claims that about 20% of the corporation's employees are women, and that "few women ever attain high positions at the company." When they do, they are paid less than their male peers.
In the lawsuit, it is stated that "women were steered into the lower levels of Defendants' hierarchy and often had to work harder and longer to earn equal promotional and other opportunities as their male counterparts."
Sexual harassment was also prevalent within the workplace. The claim lists multiple examples, including the frequent occurrence of "cube crawls," in which male employees harass other employees by moving from cubicle to cubicle.
A female employee allegedly committed suicide during a business trip as a result of a bad relationship with a manager.
The lawsuit also claims that the corporation discriminated against pregnant women. One lady said that she was rejected for a promotion because "they could not risk promoting her as she might get pregnant and like being a mom too much."
All in all, if these allegations are true, Activision Blizzard could face immense repercussions.
How has Activision Blizzard responded?
As a response to the lawsuit, Kelvin Liu, the director of corporate communications at Activision Blizzard, told CNN that the company was taking the allegations seriously and that investigations into the allegations had been undertaken. According to Liu, "We [Activision Blizzard] value diversity and strive to foster a workplace that offers inclusivity for everyone." He also stated that "there is no place in our company or industry, or any industry, for sexual misconduct or harassment of any kind."
However, Liu went on to add that the investigation and lawsuit were "inaccurate" and "distorted." He stated the following: "the picture the DFEH paints is not the Blizzard workplace of today. Over the past several years and continuing since the initial investigation started, we've made significant changes to address company culture and reflect more diversity within our leadership teams."
However, an open letter which was signed by over 3000 staff at Activision Blizzard, stated that "We [staff] believe these statements have damaged our ongoing quest for equality inside and outside of our industry. Categorizing the claims that have been made as “distorted, and in many cases false” creates a company atmosphere that disbelieves victims." The letter also requested "immediate corrections... from the highest level of our organization," as well as "official statements that recognize the seriousness of these allegations and demonstrate compassion for victims of harassment and assault."
The Aftermath
After a 150-strong staff walkout on November 16, over a thousand employees signed a petition calling for Activision Blizzard's CEO, Bobby Kotick's resignation.
Figure 2: Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick
The petition says: "we, the undersigned, no longer have confidence in the leadership of Bobby Kotick as the CEO of Activision Blizzard." The petition also says, "the information that has come to light about his behaviors and practices in the running of our companies runs counter to the culture and integrity we require of our leadership--and directly conflicts with the initiatives started by our peers." It then finally states the following: "we ask that Bobby Kotick remove himself as CEO of Activision Blizzard, and that shareholders be allowed to select the new CEO without the input of Bobby, who we are aware owns a substantial portion of the voting rights of the shareholders."
Kotick would not be the first high-ranking figure to be involved in the controversy. Blizzard President J. Allen Brack resigned on Aug. 3, two weeks after the DFEH filed its lawsuit. According to DFEH's lawsuit, Brack was aware of Blizzard's sick atmosphere.
Conclusion
The allegations, responses, and aftermath sum up the Activision Blizzard scandal, which is a testament to the unfortunate truth of the videogame industry: sexism exists, and something needs to be done about it. The remainder of the situation has yet to unfold, and the future of the lawsuit is uncertain. However, this scandal will undoubtedly compel Activision Blizzard to fix its internal issues and policies regarding discrimination against women.
References
“Activision Blizzard Scandal a 'Watershed Moment' for Women in the Gaming Industry.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 8 Aug. 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/aug/08/activision-blizzard-lawsuit-women-sexual-harassment.
Bloomberg.com, Bloomberg, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-26/activision-blizzard-staff-sign-petition-supporting-labor-lawsuit.
“Commentary: Activision Blizzard Will Be Forever Stained If Current Leadership Stays in Place.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2021, https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-11-18/activision-blizzard-reports-that-ceo-bobby-kotick-knew-of-harrassment.
Grind, Kirsten, et al. “Activision CEO Bobby Kotick Knew for Years About Sexual-Misconduct Allegations at Videogame Giant.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 16 Nov. 2021, https://www.wsj.com/articles/activision-videogames-bobby-kotick-sexual-misconduct-allegations-11637075680.
Liao, Shannon. “Over 100 Activision Blizzard Employees Stage Walkout, Demand CEO Step Down.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 17 Nov. 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2021/11/16/activision-blizzard-kotick-walkout/.
Romano, Aja. “Gaming Culture Is Toxic. A Major Lawsuit Might Finally Change It.” Vox, Vox, 10 Aug. 2021, https://www.vox.com/22617457/activision-blizzard-lawsuit-ubisoft-open-letter-toxic-gaming-culture.
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