Top boss at Activision Blizzard - makers of Call of Duty and World of Warcraft - steps down over 'frat boy-style sexual harassment' lawsuit in which staff named hotel room 'Cosby Suite'
Blizzard Entertainment President J. Allen Brack is stepping down from his position following a California state lawsuit into the company's workplace the bred discrimination and sexual harassment
The president of Activision's Blizzard Entertainment has stepped down weeks after the maker of video games like 'World of Warcraft' and 'Call of Duty,' was embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal which saw the State of California file a lawsuit against the firm.
On Tuesday, it was announced that J. Allen Brack was leaving the company in a letter from president of parent firm Activision Blizzard President Daniel Alegre to employees.
Brack, among other members of the companies top brass, was accused of ignoring employees' repeated complaints over discrimination and sexual harassment.
He is also accused of knowing about the existence of a hotel room developers used allegedly dubbed the 'Cosby suite.' They were filmed posing inside it with a photo of disgraced former convicted rapist Bill Cosby, whose conviction was overturned last month.
Photos have surfaced showing the inside of an Activision Blizzard developer's hotel room allegedly dubbed the 'Cosby suite'. One image purportedly shows a group of male developers reclining on a bed and posing with a framed photo of the disgraced comedian
A company wide email let Activision Blizzard employees know that Brack was stepping down as president. This June 13, 2013 file photo shows the Activision Blizzard Booth during the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles
The complaint alleges that as far back as 2019, Brack had been told that employees were leaving the Santa Monica, California-based company because of rampant sexual harassment and sexism.
Brack joined Blizzard in January 2006 and held multiple leadership roles before being named its president in October 2018, according to the company's website.
It also alleged employees had approached the company's human resources department with complaints of unfair pay and assignments.
The complaint says that despite the numerous complaints to human resources personnel and executives including Brack, no effective remedial measures were taken.
The lawsuit also claims that Brack only gave verbal counseling, deemed a 'slap on the wrist,' to Alex Afrasiabi, former senior creative director for 'World of Warcraft.' Afrasiabi is accused in the complaint of engaging in blatant sexual harassment and the state alleged that the company refused to deal with it because of his position.
Photos of Afrasiabi in the 'Cosby suite,' obtained by Kotaku, casts new light on one of the most shocking allegations made in the suit.
The complaint alleges that 'Afrasiabi was so known to engage in the harassment of females that his suite was nicknamed the 'Cosby Suite.'
A screenshot of a Facebook group chat posted by Afrasiabi in November 2013 reveals the title of the chat was: 'BlizzCon Cosby Crew'
One of the men in the group chat - Greg Street - posted this statement on Twitter saying he was 'embarrassed' about the name of the room and claiming he did not know about the allegations against Cosby at the time
Activision Blizzard had initially pushed back on the lawsuit. Chief executive Bobby Kotick later issued a statement acknowledging that the company's initial response had been 'quite frankly, tone deaf' and vowing to launch a far-reaching review of its workplace practices
Cosby's last name is misspelled in the suit.
Several photos posted on Afrasiabi's now-deleted social media pages, and shared with Kotaku by a former developer at Blizzard, reference his room's nickname.
A screenshot of a Facebook group chat, posted by Afrasiabi in November 2013 and obtained by Kotaku, reveals the title of the chat was: 'BlizzCon Cosby Crew.'
As well as Afrasiabi, social media accounts appearing to belong to Blizzard lead game designer Cory Stockton, World of Warcraft level designer Jesse McCree, former Blizzard designer David Kosak and former Blizzard developer Greg Street are also in the chat.
Jen Oneal and Mike Ybarra were named co-leaders of Blizzard, sharing responsibility for development and operational accountability for the company, it said Tuesday.
Oneal served as executive vice president of development at Blizzard, while Ybarra served as executive vice president & general manager of platform and technology.
'With their many years of industry experience and deep commitment to integrity and inclusivity, I am certain Jen and Mike will lead Blizzard with care, compassion and a dedication to excellence,' Alegre wrote.
Employees of the video game company Activision Blizzard hold a walkout Wednesday
The protest in Irvine, California, called for better treatment of women employees and an end to mandatory arbitration in harassment cases
About 200 people, some waving signs, gathered in the shade of trees flanking a driveway onto the campus while passing cars honked in support
The state sued Activision Blizzard Inc. last month citing a 'frat boy' culture that has become 'a breeding ground for harassment and discrimination against women.'
The lawsuit alleges that female employees face constant sexual harassment, that few women are named to leadership roles and when they are, they earn less salary, incentive pay and total compensation than male peers.
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick sent a letter to employees after the lawsuit was filed, stating that the company was 'taking swift action to be the compassionate, caring company you came to work for and to ensure a safe environment.'
'There is no place anywhere at our Company for discrimination, harassment, or unequal treatment of any kind,' he wrote.