Phil Spencer Dodges Question On Controversial Bobby Kotick Comments

thegamer.com:

Phil Spencer has no response to controversial comments made by Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, saying that he hasn't even read the interview they were shared in. This is despite Microsoft currently fighting to acquire Activision Blizzard, a company infamous for its abuse allegations, some of which revolve around Kotick himself.

This comes from an interview with a Bloomberg reporter just after the Xbox Games Showcase, with Spencer seemingly eager to distance himself from Kotick's numerous controversies. In Kotick's interview, the CEO said that Activision Blizzard has never had a systemic issue with harassment. This contradicts claims made by numerous employees, particularly women, who have shared accounts of a sexist and "frat boy" culture within the workplace.

Related: We Need to Stop Being Toxic to Video Game Developers, With the Exception of Bobby Kotick

"We’ve had every possible form of investigation done. And we did not have a systemic issue with harassment — ever," said Kotick, speaking with Variety a couple of weeks ago. Kotick went on to attack "mischaracterizations reported in the media", and the "aggressive labor movement".

Considering Xbox's comments on the matter have been much more diplomatic and PR-friendly, it's no wonder that Spencer was asked about this interview. However, when asked for comment by Bloomberg reporter Cecilia D'Anastasio, Spencer says he hasn't even read the article.

Some are finding this difficult to believe, considering it's an interview with the head of the very company Xbox wants to acquire. The gaming giant knew going into the deal that abuse and harassment claims wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon, so it stands to reason that figures like Spencer will be questioned on