Activision Blizzard’s employees are officially walking out on November 16 and calling for CEO Bobby Kotick to be “replaced.” This quickly followed after he responded to allegations laid out against him in a new report.
The Washington Journal opened November 16 with a report alleging that Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick was aware of sexual misconduct happening in the company “for years.” In response, Kotick delivered an internal address refuting those allegations as “inaccurate and misleading.”
While Kotick continued on to reaffirm his and Activision Blizzard’s commitment to fixing the company’s behavior, employees remain dissatisfied.
The employees have, in turn, enacted their own “zero tolerance policy.” As such, they are walking out and calling for Kotick to be replaced as CEO — among other wishes.
Activision Blizzard employees call for Bobby Kotick’s “replacement”
We have instituted our own Zero Tolerance Policy. We will not be silenced until Bobby Kotick has been replaced as CEO, and continue to hold our original demand for Third-Party review by an employee-chosen source. We are staging a Walkout today. We welcome you to join us.
— ABetterABK 💙 ABK Workers Alliance (@ABetterABK) November 16, 2021
Past the walkout and calls for Kotick’s ousting as CEO, the employees have also demanded further review of the company. Specifically, they maintain a “demand for Third-Party review by an employee-chosen source.”
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on Esports, Gaming and more.
- Read more: Activision CEO Bobby Kotick says reports he knew of sexual misconduct for years are “misleading”
As mentioned, the request for Kotick’s replacement followed a WSJ article detailing further instances of misconduct. These included allegations that the company’s 20-year CEO was aware of sexual harassment and rape, but did not act to punish those responsible.
Activision CEO Bobby Kotick told an employee he would have her killed. He kept an exec from being fired after a sexual harassment claim. He didn't tell his board of alleged rapes and other misconduct. Our @WSJ investigation @benfritz @saraheneedleman : https://t.co/Q4t24qWxxC
— Kirsten Grind (@KirstenGrind) November 16, 2021
After Kotick defended himself, and the company’s progress, against these allegations, a number of employees reportedly agreed to walk out and call for his removal. This walkout, and its accompanying demands, were reported by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier and announced by the company’s “Workers Alliance.”
So far, neither Kotick nor Activision Blizzard spokespeople have responded to the new developments. We will update this story if they do.
