Controversies

Company response

• Apology — Activision Blizzard

  I am sorry that anyone had to experience inappropriate conduct

• Remediation — Activision Blizzard

  it would invest in training programs and software tools to help improve workplaces in the industry.

Source excerpt

• "Employees were subjected sexual harassment that was severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of employment," the complaint reads.

• Activision Blizzard announced its agreement with the commission on the same day that the EEOC filed the complaint. An investor press release said it would commit $18 million to compensating the victims and to initiatives that support women in the video game industry. The courts and the EEOC must approve those commitments.

• The complaint alleges that employees within Activision Blizzard have been subject to employment and pay discrimination based on gender, pregnancy discrimination, and retaliation from the company for complaining about these things.

Company response

• Refund or compensation — Activision Blizzard

  As part of the settlement, Activision Blizzard will create an $18 million fund to compensate employees who claim damages.

• Remediation — Activision Blizzard

  In addition to establishing the fund for restitution, the company agrees to cease any discriminatory practices (a position Activision Blizzard has committed to in past statements), retain a consultant to ensure compliance, upgrade its training and performance review processes to prevent future offenses, and submit to future EEOC audits.

Source excerpt

• The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Activision Blizzard have settled a lawsuit over the games company’s allegedly pervasive sexual harassment and discrimination.

• As part of the settlement, Activision Blizzard will create an $18 million fund to compensate employees who claim damages.

• I am sorry that anyone had to experience inappropriate conduct

Source excerpt

• The regulator has issued a subpoena to the Call of Duty developer as well as its senior executives including chief executive officer, Bobby Kotick, the report said.

• The US securities regulator is investigating Activision Blizzard’s handling of employees’ allegations of sexual misconduct and workplace discrimination, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the investigation and documents viewed by it.

• As per The Wall Street Journal, the SEC has requested documents going as far back as 2019 in an effort to review communications between Activision Blizzard executives regarding complaints of sexual harassment and discrimination.

Source excerpt

• The letter reads, 'In contrast to past company statements, CEO Bobby Kotick was aware of many incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and gender discrimination at Activision Blizzard, but failed either to ensure that the executives and managers responsible were terminated or to recognize and address the systematic nature of the company's hostile workplace culture.'

• Activision Blizzard Inc.'s (ATVI) employees staged a mass walkout in demand of CEO Bobby Kotick's resignation in the sexual misconduct scandal that has taken drastic turns in the last few days.

Source excerpt

• The Wall Street Journal reported that the longtime CEO of the company, Boby Kotick knew about sexual misconduct against a former employee at one of the company-owned studios back in 2016-2017.

• However, claims for Kotick's resignation have also grown exponentially in the last 24 hours.

• It went on to claim that the CEO had complete knowledge of these incidents happening on a recurring basis and yet ignored all the red flags even claiming that Kotick himself played a part in multiple harassment.

Company response

• Clarification — Sledgehammer Games

  harassment of any kind goes against everything we stand for as a studio.

Source excerpt

• The State of California sued Activision Blizzard over what it alleges to be a "frat boy" culture that created "a breeding ground for harassment and discrimination against women".

• Sledgehammer Games addressed the recent Activision Blizzard allegations while announcing Call of Duty: Vanguard.

• So on behalf of Sledgehammer Games, and all of the teams supporting Call of Duty Vanguard, harassment of any kind goes against everything we stand for as a studio.

Company response

• Investigation — Activision Blizzard

  we'll continue to investigate each and every claim and complaint that we receive.

Source excerpt

• Activision Blizzard boss Bobby Kotick, along with a number of other senior executives, has spoken again as the company remains embroiled in controversy following the recent California Department of Fair Employment and Housing lawsuit alleging sexual harassment, discrimination, and a "frat boy" work culture at Blizzard.

• we'll continue to investigate each and every claim and complaint that we receive.

• Addressing investors during Activision Blizzard's Q2 2021 results call this evening, Kotick said, "I want to start by making clear to everyone that there's no place in our company where discrimination, harassment, or unequal treatment of any kind will be tolerated.

Source excerpt

• Hundreds of employees stood across a couple blocks in Irvine, Calif. just outside Blizzard Entertainment.

• They're also here for a company-wide walkout that was organized following an explosive California lawsuit that detailed wide-ranging sexual harassment, pay disparities, "frat boy" culture, and more at the video games publisher.

• The mood outside of Blizzard Entertainment on Wednesday, July 28, is a bit bittersweet.

Company response

• Apology — Activision Blizzard

  I am sorry that we did not provide the right empathy and understanding.

• Investigation — Activision Blizzard

  Kotick explains that law firm WilmerHale will conduct a review of the company's policies and procedures to ensure Activision Blizzard promotes a respectful and inclusive workplace, inviting staffers to reach out anonymously to the firm if they have something to share.

• Personnel action — Activision Blizzard

  Anyone found to have "impeded the integrity" of Activision Blizzard's "processes for evaluating claims and imposing appropriate consequences" will be fired immediately.

Source excerpt

• Several hundred Activision Blizzard employees stage a walkout outside the company’s Irvine office Wednesday.

• Employees at Activision Blizzard walked off the job Wednesday to protest the company’s response to an explosive lawsuit filed last week alleging pervasive discrimination and harassment against women.

• The company also confirmed that employees would not be penalized or lose pay if they participated in the walkout.

Company response

• Denial — Activision Blizzard

  Activision Blizzard initially denied the allegations

• Investigation — Activision Blizzard

  He noted the company was engaging WilmerHale, an outside law firm, to audit its “policies and procedures.”

Source excerpt

• Activision Blizzard initially denied the allegations

• He noted the company was engaging WilmerHale, an outside law firm, to audit its “policies and procedures.”

• The move comes after the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) sued Activision Blizzard on July 20th, alleging the company had a pervasive “frat boy” culture where female employees were constantly harassed, discriminated against, and underpaid.

Company response

• Denial — Activision Blizzard

  有内部邮件显示公司高层连夜表示忏悔，但又在对外声明中否认指控内容。

• Denial — Activision

  On Wednesday, Activision issued a statement which describes the DFEH’s complaint as “inaccurate.”

• Clarification — Activision

  Activision argues that “[t]he picture the DFEH paints is not the Blizzard workplace of today.”

• Remediation — Activision

  The statement enumerates the policies the company has recently introduced to improve its culture, including “regular anti-harassment training” for employees and an updated code of conduct “to emphasize a strict non-retaliation focus, amplified internal programs, and channels for employees to report violations.”

Source excerpt

• 自从动视暴雪公司因职场性骚扰被美国加州政府起诉事件曝光之后，动视暴雪相关的社交媒体账号以及动视暴雪旗下所有游戏的社交媒体账号均已停止更新。

• 有内部邮件显示公司高层连夜表示忏悔，但又在对外声明中否认指控内容。

• The statement enumerates the policies the company has recently introduced to improve its culture, including “regular anti-harassment training” for employees and an updated code of conduct “to emphasize a strict non-retaliation focus, amplified internal programs, and channels for employees to report violations.”

Company response

• Denial — Activision Blizzard

  We disagree with the allegations made in this complaint and look forward to presenting our arguments to the court.

• Clarification — Activision Blizzard

  We will address the complaint through the legal process as appropriate, and out of respect for the family we have no further comment at this time

• Denial — Activision Blizzard

  We do not infringe his intellectual property.

• Denial — Activision Blizzard

  Activision Blizzard refuted the allegations in a statement.

Source excerpt

• Activision Blizzard is suing Netflix for allegedly poaching its former CFO, Spencer Neumann.

• In a case filed this week in a California court and spotted by Hollywood Reporter, Activision Blizzard accuses Netflix of intentional interference with contract, unfair competition, and aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty.

• On Friday, Santa Monica-based Activision Blizzard sued Netflix over its recruitment of chief financial officer Spencer Neumann.

Source excerpt

• It escalated when a group of employees staged a walkout protest on the campus in support of Chung on Wednesday.

• American video game holding company Activision Blizzard is facing major backlash for banning a professional gamer for voicing his support of the Hong Kong protestors during a tournament live stream.

• He had been punished for shouting a Hong Kong protest slogan, “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times!” during a post-game interview broadcast live from Taipei, Taiwan, Oct. 6.