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Activision CEO Bobby Kotick Knew About Sexual Misconduct at the Company for Years

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick Knew About Sexual Misconduct at the Company for Years - News

by William D'Angelo , posted on 16 November 2021 / 2,909 Views

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick knew for years about the sexual misconduct allegations, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The report says the co-head of Activision's Treyarch studio Dan Bunting was accused of sexually harassing a female employee in 2017 after a night od drinking an was recommended to be fired in 2019 after an internal investigation from the human-resources department and other supervisors. 

Kotick intervened to make sure Bunting was not fired, according to people familiar with the incident. Bunting was given counseling and allowed to remain with the company. 

An Activision spokeswoman on an outside investigation done in 2020 said, "After considering potential actions in light of that investigation, the company elected not to terminate Mr. Bunting, but instead impose other disciplinary measures. Bunting ended up leaving the company following The Wall Street Journal asking about the incident.

The report from The Wall Street Journal also says Kotick has also been "accused by several women of mistreatment both inside and outside the workplace." The CEO "worked to settle the complaints quickly and quietly." This is according to people familiar wit the incidents.


A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.


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28 Comments
TallSilhouette (on 16 November 2021)

Supposedly he also threatened to have an employee killed and didn't inform the board of misconduct like alleged rapes. This better be the end of Kotick's tenure at Activision at the very least.

  • +8
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Chazore CaptainExplosion (on 16 November 2021)
  • -11
Podings (on 16 November 2021)

Is it really a "bombshell story" that a rich self-made CEO keeps a lid on dirty inter-personal issues in his company? Is it REALLY?

  • +7
Chazore Podings (on 16 November 2021)

I mean, yeah, when an employee commits suicide, how many times have we heard that swept under the rug style story?.

Are those types an every-day story?, last I checked they really weren't a common thing, or we'd be hearing about that every week/month and death rates would be soaring if that were the case.

  • +3
Podings Chazore (on 17 November 2021)

I get what you're saying.
Though, a suicide during a company trip has got to occur every now and then.
It's a perosnal tragedy, and rarely broadcasted. If it allegedly was do to a work relation, would YOU as a boss hurry out to tell the media about it?
The allegations here are not of a criminal nature in the first place. When we don't hear about more cases of this kind, it's likely out of respect for the involved parties, AS WELL as a wish not to spread negative media interest.

  • 0
Chazore Podings (on 17 November 2021)

I honestly haven't heard it as being a common every-day type of thing though, not in the way she suffered.

Of course bosses wouldn't hurry to tell others, but still, info like that leaks regardless, and it's why I don't see that kind of case as one being common like someone falling down the stairs and breaking their neck, or falling off a cliff while rock climbing.

  • +1
Podings Chazore (on 18 November 2021)

Naturally I don't have any numbers on this sort of thing, so you may be well be right to assume that it isn 't a common occurance.
It is worth noting however, that in this case,Kotick wasn't aware of the suicide at Blizzard. The news piece concerns shielding an employee at Treyarch, appointing him "disciplinary meassures" instead of having him fired over a (in this article) non-specified instance of sexual harrassment.

  • 0
Chazore Podings (on 18 November 2021)

I think he knew, because I know he reads the net and isn't the type of CEO to live under a rock, especially when those he's close to were the ones responsible for that person to commit suicide.

I don't think he's that dense to not know what happened.

  • +1
Podings Chazore (on 21 November 2021)

If that is the case, the information has already gone through several layers of leadership that should have taken action where action was to be taken. This isn't all on Bobby, even if he -is- the top boss.

  • 0
Ljink96 (on 16 November 2021)

There ain't no way in hell this dude should keep his job.

  • +6
Podings Ljink96 (on 16 November 2021)

He owns a majority stake and built the company ground-up over the last thirty years. Pretty sure those are the reasons he has the job right now.

  • 0
Podings VAMatt (on 18 November 2021)

Ah, my bad.

  • 0
VAMatt Podings (on 18 November 2021)

I think he does I own a substantial chunk though. And, he certainly has many allies that own other big chunks..

  • +1
Podings VAMatt (on 18 November 2021)

Yeah, I think he makes sure to be buddies with some of the heavy hitters.

  • 0
2zosteven (on 16 November 2021)

id sure like to see the complaints and actions taken here, Minus names.

  • +3
Chazore (on 16 November 2021)

I swear to god if he doesn't get fired, there is something utterly wrong with this world.

Knowing full well that shit was getting bad and letting an employee off themselves is just downright shit.

  • +3
DonFerrari (on 16 November 2021)

Who would guess.

  • +2
Kakadu18 (on 16 November 2021)

BIG SURPRISE! Of course he knew about it. This sleazeball should go to jail.

  • +1
No_Name_Needed (on 16 November 2021)

Boy if this guy keeps his job now it would be the most shocking thing ever. Crazier things have happened though.

  • +1
G2ThaUNiT (on 16 November 2021)

Oooooooooh shiiiiiiit!!!!!

  • +1
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