Activision Blizzard Sued by Former Employee Over Alleged Sexual Harassment and Assault

Activision Blizzard is facing a new lawsuit filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court by a former employee who worked at the studio for 14 years. The anonymous claimant, referred to as Jane Doe, alleges that the company fostered and tolerated a pervasive frat boy workplace culture. According to the lawsuit, she witnessed male employees and supervisors openly objectifying women, displaying pornography in the office, and making demeaning sexual remarks.

The plaintiff began her tenure within the sound department and has accused 10 men of subjecting her to harassment, physical assault, inappropriate touching, and inappropriate comments. Specific allegations include an incident where a co-worker allegedly lured her to his apartment, instigated unsolicited physical contact, blocked her exit, threatened her with violence, and attempted to rape her. The lawsuit claims that this individual continued to demand dates and spread sexual rumors about her afterward. Additionally, an unnamed audio director has been accused of repeatedly touching her leg without permission and sabotaging her career, including ensuring she was denied a promotion after she spurned his advances.

Jane Doe is seeking an undisclosed amount of compensation to cover lost wages, benefits, and earning capacity. She claims that she reported her experiences to supervisors and human resources, but her allegations were ultimately ignored by the company.

A Blizzard spokesperson told the LA Times that the company takes the allegations seriously. The representative stated that the publisher strives to maintain a respectful and inclusive workplace through policies designed to prevent and address harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, while holding employees accountable for their behavior.

This legal action follows previous high-profile legal trouble for the company. Activision Blizzard was sued by the California Civil Rights Department in 2021 over widespread allegations of sexual harassment, and the company eventually settled a modified version of that lawsuit in 2023 for $55 million.