quickly apologized 16 years ago for the obviously hyperbolic and inappropriate voice mail and he deeply regrets the exaggeration and tone in his voice mail to this day activision blizzard and kotick have been critical of this report since its release but in a statement to variety a wsj spokesperson maintained that we stand by our fair and accurate reporting on activisionin a new york city lawsuit kotick was also accused of using the stillpending xbox activision deal to escape accountability i wouldnt be sitting here talking to you if any of what you read in the inflammatory narrative was truthful kotick tells variety no board of directors in a noncontrolled company is going to allow the ceo of an enterprise to stay running the enterprise if those things were truthful image credit blizzardtheres no debate that there was harassment at activision blizzard and many employees have claimed it wasnt isolated former blizzard boss mike morhaime apologized to the blizzard women who experienced any of these things saying i am extremely sorry that i failed you amid the lawsuits president j allen brack left the company and passed the torch to jen oneal and mike ybarra but oneal quickly left after reportedly being paid less for the same job as her male colleague only receiving an equal offer after her resignation according to oneals comments in an ign report when the first lawsuit kicked off kotick acknowledged all those who have come forward and promised sweeping reforms and reviews one of the ceos initial commitments included a thirdparty investigation into the companys policies and conduct helmed by washington law firm wilmerhale koticks comments sparked a staff walkout at blizzards irvine california headquarters and wilmerhales role in this particular investigation was core to an activision staff letter decrying the companys actions after the lawsuit broke kotick tells variety that for a 17000person company activision blizzard has seen relatively few harassment and assault complaints but between walkouts petitions public letters and statements as well as other forms of organization and protest thousands of activision blizzard employees have clearly and publicly criticized the company and its response to these and other allegations its still not sunshine and rainbows over at activision blizzard either with countless employees speaking out on a mandatory return to office which according to one world of warcraft producer is worsening a loss of talent because someone in power doesnt listen