In a legal action that could have significant repercussions for G/O Media and its gaming outlet Kotaku, former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has filed a defamation lawsuit against the media company, citing what he calls deliberate misrepresentation.
The lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of Delaware, specifically targets Kotaku and Gizmodo, alleging that their recent reporting mischaracterized his involvement in a potential TikTok acquisition while reviving long-withdrawn allegations against him.
According to the complaint, Kotaku and Gizmodo published articles discussing Kotick’s rumored interest in purchasing TikTok, yet both outlets included references to past workplace misconduct allegations at Activision Blizzard—claims that Kotick maintains were thoroughly investigated and ultimately dismissed. The lawsuit argues that these references served no journalistic purpose and were instead designed to damage his reputation.
Kotick’s legal team reportedly reached out to G/O Media requesting corrections, but the response was minimal. Gizmodo removed the word “disgraced” from its headline, while both outlets later appended short clarifications to their articles.
However, Kotick asserts that these changes were insufficient and that the publications continue to misrepresent his history. This situation bears resemblance to a recent controversy involving YouTuber MrBeast, who was misquoted by Kotaku, leading to widespread backlash. In that case, Kotaku also made quiet edits but did not issue a public apology or correction.
Alyssa Mercante in trouble!
Former Kotaku reporter might be in some huge legal troubles as Kotaku is sued! She penned this hit piece again Bobby Kotick, who is suing GO Media @Kotaku for defamation by lies.
She’s so proud of saying her work is 100% vetted and bulletproof, even… pic.twitter.com/FKcGMYZZFB
— Grummz (@Grummz) March 17, 2025
This lawsuit arrives at a turbulent time for G/O Media, which has faced financial struggles, leadership changes, and multiple rounds of layoffs—including significant staff reductions at Kotaku. The media company has also previously faced defamation lawsuits, such as a high-profile case involving its former sports site Deadspin, which ended unfavorably for the publication.
Kotick’s references to past allegations trace back to a 2021 California Civil Rights Department investigation into Activision Blizzard over alleged workplace misconduct. While the case resulted in a $54 million settlement in 2023, the settlement explicitly stated that “No court or any independent investigation has substantiated any allegations” of systemic misconduct or that Activision Blizzard’s senior leadership condoned such behavior.
Despite this, Kotick argues that Kotaku and Gizmodo selectively omitted key details from their reporting, presenting a misleading narrative that improperly linked him to accusations that were resolved.
