We, the undersigned, agree that the statements from Activision Blizzard, Inc. and their legal counsel regarding the DFEH lawsuit, as well as the subsequent internal statement from Frances Townsend, are abhorrent and insulting to all that we believe our company should stand for. To put it clearly and unequivocally, our values as employees are not accurately reflected in the words and actions of our leadership.
We believe these statements have damaged our ongoing quest for equality inside and outside of our industry. Categorizing the claims that have been made as “distorted, and in many cases false” creates a company atmosphere that disbelieves victims. It also casts doubt on our organizations’ ability to hold abusers accountable for their actions and foster a safe environment for victims to come forward in the future. These statements make it clear that our leadership is not putting our values first. Immediate corrections are needed from the highest level of our organization.
Our company executives have claimed that actions will be taken to protect us, but in the face of legal action — and the troubling official responses that followed — we no longer trust that our leaders will place employee safety above their own interests. To claim this is a “truly meritless and irresponsible lawsuit,” while seeing so many current and former employees speak out about their own experiences regarding harassment and abuse, is simply unacceptable.
We call for official statements that recognize the seriousness of these allegations and demonstrate compassion for victims of harassment and assault. We call on Frances Townsend to stand by her word to step down as Executive Sponsor of the ABK Employee Women’s Network as a result of the damaging nature of her statement. We call on the executive leadership team to work with us on new and meaningful efforts that ensure employees — as well as our community — have a safe place to speak out and come forward.
We stand with all our friends, teammates, and colleagues, as well as the members of our dedicated community, who have experienced mistreatment or harassment of any kind. We will not be silenced, we will not stand aside, and we will not give up until the company we love is a workplace we can all feel proud to be a part of again. We will be the change."
I don’t think it will be effective, however. At least, not until a verdict is passed. They are entirely focused on damage control right now and admitting culpability is not something we’re going to see until they are legally forced to do so.
No, I am simply stating this forum isn’t the place for this. This is supposed to be a general discussion forum about the GAME World of Warcraft. Lately its just been who can make another post talking about the obvious or someone’s tweet about it.
They’re not looking to control damage to public perception (obviously) - damage control is focused on the legal case against them. Morally, yes, they should fess up and commit to change. But legally? Doing so would confirm everything out of the gate and have them paying a heftier sum.
I believe these accusations are serious and most likely true. That being said can we stop with all this stuff about how you have to believe all victims of these crimes? You guys who regurgitate this don’t believe it. You only believed the victim when it’s convenient and isn’t against someone on your “side”.
