Activision Blizzard Gets Hit With Another Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
Well, it would appear that the sexual harassment lawsuits are far from done when it comes to the company, Activision Blizzard. A recent lawsuit filed in the Los Angeles Supreme Court states that Activision Blizzard “is a massive video game company with a massive sexual harassment problem.” I think it's safe to say at this point that we can all simply say, “duh”. In this particular lawsuit “Jane Doe” accuses Activision Blizzard of allowing gender discrimination, intentional infliction of emotional distress, sexual battery, and failure to prevent harassment in the work environment.
The main individual is the former product manager, Miguel Vega. Jane Doe met Vega before she worked at Blizzard in 2009/10. They formed a virtual friendship, at one point she sent him risque pictures of herself. She ended any type of romantic relationship with Vega in 2011 when she met her future husband.
Fast Forward to 2016 and Vega assisted in helping Jane Doe get an independent contractor position at Activision Blizzard. She then worked herself into a full-time employee position as a community engagement coordinator in the Player Support Department. According to the lawsuit, many of the interactions with Vega resulted in him attempting to kiss her at work as well as attempting to fondle her breast. Even though Ms. Doe refused the advances Vega was quoted as saying, “One day you’ll give in”. He was also hyper critical of her performance by repeatedly stating that she was failing at a “job a monkey could do”. Now the final straw was in 2021 when he attempted to blackmail her, revenge porn style, by threatening to release her risque pictures. He gave her an ultimatum stating “leave your husband so you can stay with me” or else.
Ms. Doe reported him to HR and in a small silver lining situation, he was fired within 10 days. However, it is obvious that the damage suffered through “physical pain, mental suffering, humiliation and loss of enjoyment in life” was already done. It will be interesting what comes of this lawsuit, but I truly hope that she gets some comfort from the outcome and that Activision Blizzard doesn’t just get a small slap on the wrist.