Apparently Activision CEO Bobby Kotick also abused women

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick claimed to be in the dark about widespread allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination that surfaced at the company earlier this year new bomb report from The Wall Street JournalNot only was Kotick aware of the wrongdoing, he was also involved in ignoring or downplaying the abuse of women.

In the course of a California lawsuit During the summer of alleged sexual discrimination, harassment and a “frat boy” culture at Activision Blizzard, many questioned Kotick’s guilt over his decades as head of the company. Last month, the CEO apologized to employees after agreeing to a $ 18 million settlement with federal regulators and committing to take steps to improve the way the company treats its employees.

“Over the years, Mr. Kotick himself has been accused of abuse by several women both inside and outside the workplace, and in some cases has worked to resolve complaints quickly and quietly.” The Wall Street Journal writes.

An Activision Blizzard spokesman sent Kotaku the following statement when asked about the new report.

We are disappointed with the Wall Street Journal report which is a misleading view by Activision Blizzard and our CEO. Cases of sexual misconduct that he became aware of were addressed. The WSJ ignores important changes that are underway to make this the most welcoming and inclusive place to work in the industry, and does not consider the efforts of the thousands of employees who work hard every day to live up to their – and our – values. The constant desire to get better has always been what defines this company.

Because of this, we have made significant improvements at the direction of Mr Kotick, including a zero tolerance policy for inappropriate behavior. Because of this, we move forward with unwavering focus, speed, and resources to further increase diversity in our company and industry, and to ensure that every employee feels valued, safe, respected, and inspired. We won’t stop until we have the best place to work for our team.

In 2006, Kotick allegedly molested one of his assistants and threatened to kill her in a voicemail. In 2007, Kotick reportedly told a private jet flight attendant that sue him for sexual harassment committed by the pilot of his jet: “I will destroy you.” An Activision spokesman said The Wall Street Journal

that Kotick immediately apologized for the 2006 incident. Kotick also denied ever telling the flight attendant that he would “destroy” her.

In 2020, 30 female employees from Activision’s esports division reportedly emailed department heads saying they were “exposed to unwanted touch, humiliating comments, dismissal from important meetings and unwanted comments about their appearance” . Corresponding The Wall Street Journal

, Kotick was aware of the email. An Activision spokesperson said it addressed their concerns by delivering diversity and inclusion training to managers on the eSports team.

the Wall Street JournalThe report also contains new allegations against others who previously worked for the company.

Former Blizzard technology chief Ben Kilgore was fired in 2018 after an investigation into multiple sexual harassment allegations, but he was thanked in an email from then chief Michael Morhaime “for his many contributions over the past four and a half years.” Kilgore did not respond The Wall Street JournalRequest for comment.

Javier Panameno, a former supervisor of Sledgehammer Games, was accused of raping one woman and sexually molesting a second. One of the attacked women reported both incidents to HR before she left the company in 2017 The Wall Street Journal, but Activision Blizzard did not investigate the allegations and fired the manager until the following year when a lawyer emailed one of the women to the company. Activision has reached an out-of-court settlement with the woman, but Kotick is said not to have notified the company’s board of directors of the incident. Activision Blizzard is currently under investigation by the SEC to determine whether it has provided its investors with reasonable information about the company’s misconduct in the past.

Dan Bunting, until this month co-head of Treyarch, was accused of molesting a colleague in 2017 after a night of partying. A 2019 internal investigation reportedly recommended his release, however The Wall Street Journal reports that Kotick intervened to prevent this from happening and Bunting received advice instead. Bunting didn’t respond The Wall Street Journal‘s request for comment, but an Activision spokesperson said: “After considering possible action in the face of this investigation, the company decided not to fire Mr. Bunting and instead instituted other disciplinary measures.”

Bunting left the company two years later, but only after that The Wall Street Journal asked about the allegation.

Kotick’s recent commitments to repair the company and make it a safe and fair place for employees are also under renewed examination afterwards the resignation of Jen Oneal, Blizzard’s first female studio co-Head.

She left earlier this month after being appointed to the position that summer following the aftermath of the California lawsuit. The Wall Street Journal now reports Before she left Concerns about whether the company would actually change, she expressed in an email.

Inside, she said, ithe was paid less than her newly appointed counterpart Mike Ybarra and felt “marked, marginalized and discriminated against” while at the company. She recalled a party in 2007 at an Activision studio where women danced on stripper sticks and the DJ encouraged the female participants to get drunk. Activision Blizzard said Kotick couldn’t remember the party.

Update: 11/16/21, 12:35 p.m. ET: A statement from Activision Blizzard and other information from. added The Wall Street Journal‘s report.