Activision Blizzard accused of discriminating against ‘old white guys’
A former Activision Exec has spoken out against the company and claims he was discriminated against, saying ABK has a bias against "old white guys."
08th Jan 2024 13:46
Images via Blizzard | Sledgehammer Games
Activision Blizzard accused of discriminating against ‘old white guys’
A former Activision Exec has spoken out against the company and claims he was discriminated against, saying ABK has a bias against "old white guys."
08th Jan 2024 13:46
Images via Blizzard | Sledgehammer Games
After being embroiled in unsavoury allegations of sexual harassment and workplace bullying, Activision Blizzard is once again in the spotlight. However, while original lawsuits were largely from women claiming they were discriminated against, the latest is from a very different claimant.
The publisher was accused of having a "frat boy" culture and called out for reported goings on in the nicknamed "Bill Cosby Suite," but as settlements pour in, a former exec is taking the company to court - claiming Activision Blizzard has discriminated against "old white guys."
Activision Blizzard accused of discriminating 'old white guys'
Activision Blizzard recently paid a hefty $54 to settle a California workplace discrimination suit, and while it would be a good time to lie low for a while, a former ABK exec has spoken out about his own apparent plight. As reported by Law360 (via GamesIndustry.biz), the publisher is being sued...again.
This time, an unnamed 57-year-old is taking the gaming giant to task. They apparently worked with Activision Blizzard from 2014 until they were laid off as part of the company's Central Tech department being restructured in August 2023.
The lawsuit accuses former CEO Bobby Kotick of saying "There are too many old white guys" during a leadership conference. It adds that a pair of white execs left shortly after this, saying it was "based, at least in part, on Kotick's ageist remarks."
Although the plaintiff was apparently recommended as a replacement, the suit claims he was passed over for a "non-white employee," who became his manager. This manager is then accused of creating a hostile work environment and criticising the plaintiff's work. It's blamed for his yearly salary increase being the lowest since working there.
The plaintiff goes on to say a woman in the department complained about her own merit-based increase but she made "false and defamatory remarks" about him to HR and his manager. Activision Blizzard is then accused of failing "to protect Plaintiff from the discriminatory and defamatory accusations."
Activision Blizzard apparently failed to take these accusations seriously
Things were reportedly flagged as "a larger issue," with the plaintiff asking for things to be investigated independently. This was apparently "ignored and he was not taken seriously." The case says that out of a team of 200, he and six other men over the age of 47 were cut.
As well as noting Activision currently has open job openings in the Central Tech department, the suit maintains, "Activision placed profits over people by terminating the older, higher paid executives." He wants damages for loss of earnings, reputational damage, emotional distress and wrongful termination, and a negative impact on career advancement - as well as legal costs.
GamesIndustry.biz reached out for comment, with Activision Blizzard replying with a link to its equal employment opportunity policy. It seems that if the publisher isn't putting out fires about accusations of harassing women, it's tackling allegations of discriminating "old white guys." Another day, another lawsuit.
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
