Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick Lawsuit

Activision Blizzard CEO Cuts Salary Following Discrimination Lawsuit

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has decided to cut his salary to the lowest possible amount by state law (around $60,000) until the issues surrounding discrimination and sexual harassment at the company are addressed, Business Wire reported. This comes in light of the ongoing lawsuit levelled at Activision Blizzard when numerous reports of misconduct at the publisher came to public attention.

Activision Blizzard was hit with a few lawsuits, some still ongoing, following scathing allegations of discrimination, harassment and abuse at the gaming company. Several executives were outed and removed from Activision during the fiasco. This has also impacted Activision’s games as well, with Overwatch hero Jesse McCree (named after a former Activision Blizzard employee who was ousted) being renamed to Cole Cassidy recently.

READ MORE Sony Adds Free PS VR Games to November PlayStation Plus

Kotick spoke in depth about his decision to cut his salary down to a low amount until the discrimination issues at Activision are all addressed, stating:

“I want to ensure that every available resource is being used in the service of becoming the industry leader in workplace excellence. Accordingly, I have asked our Board of Directors to reduce my total compensation until the Board has determined that we have achieved the transformational gender-related goals and other commitments described above.

Specifically, I have asked the Board to reduce my pay to the lowest amount California law will allow for people earning a salary, which this year is $62,500. To be clear, this is a reduction in my overall compensation, not just my salary. I am asking not to receive any bonuses or be granted any equity during this time.”

The lawsuit began back in July when California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard, citing gender-based discrimination at the workplace and alleged sexual harassment.

Activision Blizzard’s initial response called the suit “distorted and false”, but that didn’t stop employees at the publisher from staging a walkout. Kotick would later apologize for the reply, calling it “tone-deaf” and promised to improve working conditions and fair treatment. Hopefully, Kotick can stay true to his promises for change and some major improvements happen soon.

NOW READ Xbox Game Pass Gets Age of Empires and More

Source: Business Wire

Writer
Editor-in-Chief of Nexus Hub, writer at GLITCHED. Former writer at The Gaming Report and All Otaku Online. RPG addict that has wonderful nightmares of Bloodborne 2.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *