‘World of Warcraft’ players stage in-game protest against Activision Blizzard due to lawsuit
World of Warcraft's large player base is taking a stand against Activision Blizzard, as a recent lawsuit by California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing was publicized in social media.
(Trigger Warning: Suicide and Sexual Harassment)
Polygon stated that the demonstration at the Oribos social area of the game was organized by a role-playing guild called Fence Macabre Caravan to raise money and awareness for Black Girls Code, a non-profit organization that provides education for young women of color in the tech industry.
“We as customers and members of this community protest the unethical treatment of employees at Activision Blizzard, and demand that they make transparent lasting changes to their company and associated IPs," Fence Macabre said in a Twitter post.
Fence Macabre encourages all sub-locked players to join us on Thursday July 22nd at 9AM PST at the Idyllia Steps, Oribos.
— Fence Macabre Caravan (@fencemacabre) July 22, 2021
Alliance Anchor: Vicaire-WyrmrestAccord
Horde Anchor: Loira-WyrmrestAccord
Fundraising Campaign: https://t.co/uRVkYZUcSY pic.twitter.com/bl8IaLXVXh
According to a Bloomberg report, Activision Blizzard is being accused of fostering a “frat boy” culture in their workspace where female employees are constantly being taken advantage of and discriminated against.
Male workers in the company were reported to pass along their responsibilities to the female workers and often harass them while being intoxicated.
The female workers were also reported to be put into low pay and low opportunity level work when compared to their male counterparts.
There is also one incident indicated where a female employee committed suicide after being subjected to intense sexual harrasment and again experiencing the same during a business trip with a male supervisor.
A spokesperson from Activision Blizzard denied the accusations, stating that they “value diversity and strive to foster a workplace that offers inclusivity for everyone” and that “the picture the DFEH paints is not the Blizzard workplace of today.”
The spokesperson also added that “the DFEH includes distorted, and in many cases false, descriptions of Blizzard’s past. We have been extremely cooperative with the DFEH throughout their investigation, including providing them with extensive data and ample documentation, but they refused to inform us what issues they perceived.”
The sit-in has currently raised over $8,000 for the organization and those who wish to participate in the fundraiser may do so on the Tiltify fundraising page that will be open until July 27.
Your mental health and well-being is important, in and out of the workplace. If you need to talk to someone, the National Center for Mental Health have people who care about you and will listen. Call (02) 1553 for their Luzon-wide landline toll free number. For Globe and TM subscribers, call 0966 351 4518 or 0917 899 8727. For Smart, Sun, and TNT subscribers, call 0908 639 2672.
(Images from the official Fence Macabre Caravan Twitter account)