Activision Blizzard more than ever in turmoil. Already targeted by a California justice investigation after several harassment complaints, the video game giant must now put out a fire caused by an investigation of Wall Street Journal. According to the American business daily, the CEO of the Californian studio, Bobby Kotick, had been aware for “years” of the excesses of a toxic corporate culture. Worse, he is accused of having concealed rape accusations from the board of directors by negotiating an amicable agreement with the victim.
On Tuesday, 150 Activision Blizzard employees walked out to demand his resignation. Bobby Kotick has received backing from his board, but pressure is likely to intensify as the group’s stock plunged 6% on Wall Street.
Call of Duty studio employee accused of rape
According to documents obtained by the Wall Street Journal, Kotick received an email in July 2018 from the lawyer of a former employee of the studio Sledgehammer Games, who has been in charge since 2011 of Call of Duty, a franchise that has grossed more than $ 27 billion to Activisionot in almost 20 years.
The ex-employee claimed to have been raped twice by a superior in 2016 and 2017 during parties organized by her employer where she was allegedly pressured to consume alcohol. Faced with inaction from human resources, his lawyer threatened the company with a complaint. According to the American daily, Bobby Kotick did not inform his board of directors, and negotiated an amicable agreement guaranteeing the silence of the victim, who had reported one of the rapes to the police.
Bobby Kotick is himself accused of having harassed one of his assistants in 2006 and of having threatened her with death in a message left on his answering machine. An Activision spokesperson said he apologized 16 years ago for “that hyperbolic and inappropriate message.”
The entire video game sector, from Activision to Ubisoft, is shaken by the freedom of speech, mainly among former employees, who denounce the abuses of an essentially male and juvenile environment. Since the opening of a California justice investigation, Activision Blizzard has received more than 500 reports of harassment, sexual assault and discrimination.