In the wake of the sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit filed against Activision, Blizzard co-founder and ex-CEO Mike Morhaime released an official statement and apology regarding the state of the company.

In his statement, Morhaime said, "I was at Blizzard for 28 years. During that time, I tried very hard to create an environment that was safe and welcoming for people of all genders and backgrounds." However, he continued to say, upon reading the allegations filed against Activision, "It is all very disturbing and difficult to read. I am ashamed. It feels like everything I thought I stood for has been washed away."

Several times in the statement, Morhaime mentioned how he failed women in the industry, insisting that "it is the responsibility of leadership to stamp out toxicity and harassment in any form, across all levels of the company." Additionally, he acknowledged that simple apologies are not a sufficient response to an issue that is "prevalent in our industry." As a result, he supplemented his statement with a promise to "use [his] influence to help drive positive change and to combat misogyny, discrimination, and harassment wherever [he] can." He added that "it is no consolation that other companies have faced similar challenges."

However, Morhaime's statement is not only an acknowledgment of the discrimination in the industry but also an assertion that this discrimination does not need to exist. He stated that the gaming industry "can do better," that it "can be a place where women and minorities are welcomed, included, supported, recognized, rewarded, and ultimately unimpeded from the opportunity to make the types of contributions that all of us join this industry to make."

Following the first allegations of sexual misconduct at Activision Blizzard, several employees both past and present have come forward either to denounce the actions in question or share their own experiences and even more began distancing themselves from Activision's statements. There have also been responses to Morhaime's statement, pointing out that the aforementioned "frat boy" work environment existed during Morhaime's time at Activision as well.

One such response from former Activision employee Cher Scarlett said, "[Morhaime] was directly responsible for the chain reaction of events that got me nearly fired." Another victim named Connie Griffith stated that "in the end we didn't matter to you." While Dreamhaven, Morhaime's new project founded after his retirement from Blizzard, has made strong and open statements against discrimination and sexual misconduct, Griffith responded, "how could I believe that when you tolerated what went on at Blizzard. You filled the ranks w/ old guard taken from Blizzard."

Scarlett also came out requesting that anybody who "worked at Activision Blizzard and experienced or witnessed discrimination or harassment" reach out to her on Twitter.

Source: TwitLonger