Sony Addresses Marathon Reboot Director’s $200 Million Wrongful Dismissal Lawsuit, Raises Concerns Over ‘Worrisome Communications’ with Female Staff
By Sony has addressed allegations made by Destiny 2 and Marathon reboot director Christopher Barrett, who has filed a $200 million USD wrongful termination lawsuit, outlining Barrett’s purported ‘disturbing interactions’ with female employees—including “provocative games of ‘Truth or Dare’.”
Barrett’s exit from Bungie was initially reported last March amid news of a leadership restructuring at the studio. Later, it was asserted that Barrett was terminated following an internal inquiry into allegations of inappropriate conduct made by “at least eight” female staff members. Matters intensified in December when Barrett initiated a lawsuit against Bungie and Sony, accusing the companies of “intentionally ruining [his] reputation by falsely and openly suggesting…he had engaged in sexual misconduct.”
Barrett’s list of accusations was extensive, but central to his claim was the assertion that his dismissal was a “prearranged scheme” devised so Bungie and Sony might evade paying him “almost $50 million… owed under his employment contract.” He further insisted he “did nothing remotely resembling misconduct or ‘Cause’ as defined in the Retention Agreements… and there could not have been any credible claim he did so, as [he] had an impeccable twenty-five-year record at Bungie.”
And now (via Game File’s Stephen Totilo), Sony has submitted its initial substantive response, denying Barrett’s claims and outlining the events that allegedly led to his termination. “Several female, subordinate employees independently reported to Human Resources that Barrett exhibited inappropriate behavior and troubling written and verbal communications,” it stated, “which made them uncomfortable and fearful of retaliation if they did not engage or reported Barrett.”
“The inquiry revealed that Barrett’s misconduct with each employee was consistent: he targeted a lower-level, female employee he was not directly working with, initially engaging in friendly conversation, and gradually crossed boundaries with the employee by making subtle comments about her physical appearance or expressing romantic interest.
“Barrett sought to create an unprofessional level of intimacy with his victims,” Sony continued in its court filing. “He requested to follow personal Instagram accounts and would express frustration to the women if they did not respond to his messages. He raised inappropriate subjects such as their bodies, their relationships, his marriage, or his desire to date them. He pressured them to participate in provocative games of ‘Truth or Dare’ and ‘Ask Me Anything.’ He texted them at all hours of the day and night. He offered to buy them gifts. He often boasted about his wealth and his ability to advance their careers.”
Sony’s submission also includes numerous examples of Barrett’s purported misconduct, including one incident where he allegedly FaceTimed a female employee late at night while intoxicated despite requests to “respect boundaries,” ultimately leading her to his bedroom and stating, “I can’t believe I am lying in bed while talking to [VICTIM 1].”
Barrett also reportedly messaged a second employee through Instagram Direct Message, telling her, “You are the holy grail. I hope you find someone deserving of your attention.” After the employee responded that she had a boyfriend who treated her well, Barrett reportedly replied, “He better be worthy.”