The Game Awards Shamed For Neutral Stance On Activision Blizzard

Editor’s Note: A lawsuit has been filed against Activision Blizzard by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, which alleges the company has engaged in abuse, discrimination, and retaliation against its female employees. Activision Blizzard has denied the allegations. The full details of the Activision Blizzard lawsuit (content warning: rape, suicide, abuse, harassment) are being updated as new information becomes available.

The Game Awards and its creator, Geoff Keighley, are experiencing backlash following a Washington Post article featuring Keighley’s comments about Activision Blizzard’s involvement in the annual awards show. Activision Blizzard is currently embroiled in a lawsuit filed this past summer by the State of California, following a two-year investigation that alleges sexual misconduct, abuse and an overall toxic workplace environment. The Game Awards 2021 ceremony is set to premiere on December 9 (it should be noted that Screen Rant is a judge in The Game Awards 2021).

In one of the case’s most recent developments, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick was accused of hiding and dismissing sexual harassment allegations filed as early as 2018. The Wall Street Journal reported a female employee at an Activision-owned studio informed Kotick (in 2018) that a male supervisor repeatedly sexually assaulted her over the course of a two-year period. In an email to Kotick, the employee claimed she notified her human resources department but to no avail, and she allegedly threatened to subsequently sue Activision Blizzard. Although the matter was settled out of court, Kotick purportedly did not notify the company’s board of directors about the allegations or settlement. Additionally, the Wall Street Journal’s report includes details surrounding claims of Kotick’s own workplace misconduct, having apparently fired a female employee in 2007 for reporting her sexual harassment, and threatening a female assistant in 2006 through a voicemail – in which he said he would “have her killed.”

The Game Awards host and founder, Geoff Keighley, recently told The Washington Post (via Kotaku) his thoughts surrounding Activision Blizzard’s involvement in this year’s show, claiming he is still thinking about how to “navigate” the situation. The annual event’s advisory board includes Activision president Rob Kostich and several Activision Blizzard titles are nominated for awards. Keighley told the newspaper, “We want to support employees and developers,” with the Washington Post adding “[Keighley] supported people coming forward with their stories but also didn’t want to diminish developers’ opportunities to spotlight their games.“ Keighley’s comments sparked outrage on social media, with prominent voices in the gaming industry criticizing his stance on the matter. Gaming industry host and actress Naomi Kyle tweeted she won’t attend the upcoming Game Awards “unless they do decide to come out with a solid stance.”

Co-director of the Video Game History Foundation Kelsey Lewin also took to Twitter to voice disappointment toward Keighley’s comments, implying hypocrisy by recalling a 2015 incident when Keighley publicly called out Japanese publisher Konami after it allegedly barred Metal Gear Solid V director Hideo Kojima from attending that year’s Game Awards. Keighley has since tweeted, “Beyond its nominations, I can confirm that Activision|Blizzard will not be a part of this year’s #TheGameAwards,” and reiterated many of his Washington Post comments in and ensuing thread.

Keighley did not disclose the specifics behind his tweet – particularly whether Activision Blizzard’s presence on the The Game Awards’ advisory board is set to change. Major reveals and teasers are often unveiled at The Game Awards, so Keighley’s tweet appears to indicate this year’s ceremony won’t feature any such content from Activision Blizzard. That said, with its nominations (and, perhaps, maintained advisory board position), it still might be hard to ignore Activision Blizzard’s presence at this year’s Game Awards.

Sources: The Washington Post, Kotaku, Naomi Kyle/Twitter, Kelsey Lewin/Twitter, Geoff Keighley/Twitter

About The Author