Riot Games is investigating extensive internal sexism and misogyny at the company following a Kotaku report<\/a>\u00a0earlier this month. The developer is already taking action against specific complaints, which will require the removal of several employees.<\/p>
The\u00a0League of Legends<\/em> developer posted an update<\/a> to the Riot Games website outlining the company’s “first steps forward” following the report. “For the past three weeks, we’ve been focused on listening and learning,” a Riot spokesperson wrote. “As a company, we’re used to patching problems ASAP, but this patch will not happen overnight. We will weave this change into our cultural DNA and leave no room for sexism or misogyny.”<\/p>
Related: New report alleges ongoing sexual harassment and misogyny at Riot Games<\/a><\/strong><\/p>
On Aug. 7, Kotaku published a report on Riot’s “culture of sexism.” The 8,000-word piece includes reports from 28 current and former employees. Both men and women at the company discussed sexual harassment, discriminatory hiring practices, and rampant toxicity. Following the report, many more current and former employees spoke out about the “bro culture” that Riot supported, echoing and expanding on the Kotaku report. Former product management director Barry Hawkins is the latest Riot employee to speak out about the company’s culture. Hawkins wrote an extensive account<\/a> of why he left the company, which included a rape joke made in Riot’s recruiting material.<\/p>
