A former 14-year Activision Blizzard veteran is suing the company over alleged sexual harassment and gender discrimination. The Los Angeles Times first reported the lawsuit, which was filed last week in Los Angeles court.
The woman, who is called Jane Doe in the complaint, claims Blizzard Entertainment "was a male-dominated workplace in which women were a small minority." Women employed there, including Doe, were "largest absent from senior leadership" and "subjected to discriminatory treatment in compensation, assignments, and advancement, and to pervasive sexual harassment," according to the complaint.
Doe worked at Blizzard Entertainment starting in 2009 as an hourly employee in the sound department. In 2016 she was hired in "salaried producer roles" in the sound department. Doe worked at Blizzard Entertainment until April 15, 2024, at which time she received a "constructive discharge," lawyers wrote. Doe said she was hired into the same role as a male employee who was paid $18 per hour to the $10 per hour she was paid, something that took six months to be addressed, among other alleged discrimination.
The complaint also outlines alleged sexual harassment of Doe from multiple employees at the company, one of whom is accused of attempted rape. At work, Doe said, the coworker spread rumors about her and called her "bitch" and "slut" in front of others. Blizzard Entertainment's human resources department "took no meaningful remedial action," lawyers wrote, and eventually promoted the coworker.
Doe also alleged harassment and assault by several other male coworkers, one of whom it’s claimed made "unwanted sexual advances" toward Doe at one of Blizzard Entertainment's sound facilities. "After Plaintiff rejected him, Coworker A grabbed Plaintiff, kissed her against her will, and put his hand inside her pants. Plaintiff forced him away and demanded that he stop," lawyers wrote. "Coworker A thereafter sent Plaintiff sexually explicit messages. When Plaintiff reported to her senior manager… that Coworker A should not be hired onto the team because of his conduct, [the manager] dismissed Plaintiff's concerns and expressed concern only for Coworker A's reputation."
Human resources, throughout it all, dismissed her claims, according to the lawsuit. "Plaintiff repeatedly complained to her supervisors and to Human Resources about the harassment, discrimination, and unequal treatment she experienced. Blizzard's Human Resources function and management… were dismissive of and hostile to such complaints, were known to be close to the alleged harassers, and failed to take timely or effective corrective action," lawyers wrote in the complaint. "Plaintiff is informed and believes that Blizzard failed to preserve, and in some instances destroyed or withheld, documents relating to complaints and investigations. After Plaintiff and other women engaged in protected activity, Blizzard subjected them to adverse actions, including denial of professional opportunities, negative reviews, and the sabotage of their careers."
Doe said she was "constructively discharged" on April 15, 2024. She "suffered severe emotional and physical distress throughout her employment, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, and was required to seek ongoing psychiatric care," lawyers said.
An Activision Blizzard spokesperson told Aftermath that it takes allegations seriously, saying, "We strive to maintain a respectful and inclusive workplace, and we do that through best-in-class policies and systems designed to prevent and address harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, and by holding employees accountable for their behavior.”
Activision Blizzard was sued in 2021 by the California Civil Rights Department for similar allegations. The California agency reached a nearly $55 million settlement with Activision Blizzard in 2023 to resolve the gender discrimination and harassment suit; as part of the settlement, California removed the claims of harassment and focused only on gender discrimination and wage inequality. Activision Blizzard denied wrongdoing throughout the case. The company was also sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2022 over the same sexual harassment and discrimination charges, which was settled in 2021.
