In a surprising twist, Activision Blizzard faces a new discrimination lawsuit, this time accused of discriminating against “older white men.” The allegation stems from a former executive’s claim of hearing CEO Bobby Kotick criticize the prevalence of “old white men” within the company.

Amidst ongoing controversy, Activision Blizzard, recently under Microsoft’s management, confronts yet another lawsuit, this time for alleged discrimination against “older white men.” This new accusation, attributed to former CEO Bobby Kotick, adds to the company’s troubled history of gender-based discrimination. A previous executive has filed the lawsuit, citing Kotick’s remarks at a leadership conference about the company’s need to reduce the number of “old white men.” Following this, several senior executives were reportedly dismissed as part of restructuring efforts.

The plaintiff alleges that Activision prioritized financial considerations over fair employment practices by terminating older, higher-paid executives. Furthermore, the lawsuit claims that the company favored hiring a younger, non-white employee for a prominent role over the plaintiff, despite his recommendation for the position. This decision allegedly led to a hostile work environment. The complainant’s grievances, raised with the Human Resources department, were purportedly disregarded and not taken seriously.

Activision Blizzard has responded to the lawsuit, with a representative highlighting their commitment to equal employment opportunities. Additionally, it’s important to note that this lawsuit follows a significant settlement by Activision Blizzard in a previous case involving sexual discrimination against its employees.

Source: Law360