Activision Blizzard fires 37 employees after sexism scandal

The sexism scandal and the debate that followed is not ending for Activision Blizzard. The Wall Street Journal has now published a report on the publisher’s current situation — which looks bleak, especially for CEO Bobby Kotick.

What happened? The world-renowned publisher Activision Blizzard encountered turbulence in the summer of 2021 and received heavy criticism. Employees complained about the toxic working atmosphere at the gaming giant and the Californian Authority for Fair Working Conditions (DFEH for short) complained.

Around half a year later, the situation at Activision Blizzard continues. In the meantime, many of the perpetrators have been released or disciplined, according to a company spokesman. However, CEO Bobby Kotick is still a target on the shooting range.

CEO to withhold status report on company situation

What does the report show? According to the Wall Street Journal, the status report should include over 700 complaints from employees (via wsj.com). You’ve caught up with Activision Blizzard in the past few months. Actually, they wanted to make them available to the public over the Christmas holidays, to make them accessible to everyone.

Allegedly, it was CEO Bobby Kotick who withheld the huge report. So he is said to have said that he would put him in a particularly bad light. He wanted: “Don’t make the problem appear bigger than it is.”

In addition, Kotick is said to have known about the conditions in advance of the investigation, including harassment and abuse during working hours. But again he missed his chance to tell the board. The same board continues to reiterate their support for CEO Bobby Kotick.

This is how the publisher is reacting now: However, there is also good news, which is also officially confirmed. In the months since the DFEH investigation ended, 37 employees have left the company. Whether fired or voluntarily is not mentioned.

Another 44 employees had to undergo various disciplinary measures or were seriously cautioned.

A statement from a spokesman for Activision Blizzard said:

We’ve reviewed and completed more than 90 percent of employee reports since July. As a result of these reports, 37 employees left the company, and 44 others received written warnings, warnings and disciplinary measures.

However, the company’s management consistently rejects the allegations that Bobby Kotick withheld the large report containing more than 700 complaints from employees. We stand behind Kotick and no one has deliberately tried to exclude the public and/or the press from the ongoing debate.