Sony preps abortion rights donation after backlash to Jim Ryan email
Sony Interactive Entertainment and Insomniac Games are reportedly planning to make a major donation to an abortion rights nonprofit after SIE CEO Jim Ryan's poorly-received email last week, according to emails reviewed by The Washington Post. But as part of that donation, the company behind PlayStation apparently plans to keep quiet publicly about the ongoing battle over abortion rights in the United States.
Ryan's email from last week (which asked employees to "respect differences of opinion" on abortion, before proceeding to discuss his cat's birthdays and the joys of dog ownership) apparently not only triggered backlash from employees, it drove subsidiary Insomniac Games to prepare a $50,000 donation to the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project (WRRAP).
Sony has apparently agreed to match Insomniac Games' donation, as well as any donations made by employees through the company's PlayStation Cares program. It is also apparently drafting policies to provide employees with financial assistance should they need to travel to different states to receive reproductive care.
This revelation from The Washington Post seems to be a frustrating mixed bag for Sony and Insomniac Games employees. On the one hand, Sony's commitment to supporting abortion rights organizations and employees in need of reproductive care is welcome, especially after Ryan's befuddling comments downplaying the issue last week.
On the other hand, Sony is apparently taking a draconian approach to its messaging on the topic. Insomniac Games CEO Ted Price reportedly told employees that its parent company has demanded silence from the game developer, and that "there would be material repercussions for us as a wholly owned subsidiary" if it were to ignore
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