EA Reportedly Tells Employees It Won't Speak Out On Abortion Rights

gamespot.com:

After recently leaked documents signaled the United States Supreme Court's plans to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision this summer, several game publishers and developers have spoken out in support of reproductive rights. However,, Electronic Arts may not be joining the chorus.

According to a report by Kotaku, EA held a company town hall meeting on May 24 to address the issue, telling employees that Electronic Arts is an «inclusive company» and thus must be inclusive of all points of view on the issue of reproductive and transgender rights. Despite many employees reportedly expressing outrage and a deep desire for their employer to openly support the rights of women and the LGBTQ+ community, EA chief people officer Mala Singh stated, “These things are hard and they’re personal and we all have our own perspectives and sometimes we won’t speak, and that will be upsetting and I understand that, we really do.”

Singh went on to explain that EA only speaks out on social issues when doing so will «actually have a positive impact.» This statement has left both employees and gamers frustrated, as many fail to see how speaking up in support of reproductive and transgender rights would fail to have a positive impact.

Many have pointed to the fact that EA publicly supported the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of George Floyd's 2020 murder, with the popular games publisher even donating $1 million to organizations fighting racial injustice. Back in March, EA joined forces with 64 other companies--from Apple to Gearbox--to sponsor an ad in the Dallas Morning News that condemned anti-trans legislation in Texas, though EA never spoke publicly about the ad on any platform. Electronic Arts has also tweeted in support