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Former Naughty Dog employee says he was sexually harassed by a lead in late 2015

B.O.O.M

Member
The ones who should be most under fire for this is the HR department. wtf. Hope we hear an update on this from the company, cz shit like this should not be allowed
 

Servbot24

Banned
Blanket statements like "ND ARE TERRIBLE" are absolutely ridiculous.

Things you can actually conclude from this are: One person at Naughty Dog is a scumbag, and whoever had their hands on this HR complaint at Sony HR are scumbags.

That's it. Anything else is you pulling your jumping to conclusions mat out and going ham on it.

At this point I agree, but if we find out later that there is a pattern of this type of activity at ND, then the "few bad apples" argument eventually goes out.
 
In late 2015, I was sexually harassed at Naughty Dog by a lead. My work environment became extremely toxic afterward.

What’s sexually harassing to some people doesn’t bother others. Some people are just to damn sensitive.
Did he ever say stop or just kept taking it and go to HR?
Not enough info to bash the whole company.

Dude...just delete this shit and apologize.
 
I'm super glad that people are opening up about this stuff, a year ago this stories were really taboo.

There are two villains here: the abuser and the HR team that covered it. It's very possible that neither of those parties are still working there, so talking shit about Naughty Dog or Sony now is pointless. Please, do not forget that, an employee does not represent a whole company. Never.

What we should do, as external parties, is to promote every story of this subject that brave people are willing to share in public, to make sure that everyone read this and understands that this situations should be erradicated.

Well said.
If it's true then this really shitty and obviously whoever was involved at ND needs to be removed along with whatever executive was aware of it within the HR chain that tried to cover it.

They institutionalized crunch at a level far beyond contemporary studios and are known for applying direct pressure to employees to work and to deliver outside the bounds of their actual job responsibilities. The fact that their HR team already works to actively support bad labor practices makes it much less surprising that they would also support a valuable employee over a victim of harassment.

That sounds like hyperbole given the horror stories we've equally heard about other studios' crunches as well. Let alone likely Japanese crunches since they do it almost voluntarily due to their culture. The entire industry is shit for the enforced crunches and crunch culture. Not that we haven't heard theirs are really bad too.
 

the_id

Member
This is disgusting systematic cooperate behavior if true. I hope more people will come out to shed more light into this.
 

JlNX

Member
In late 2015, I was sexually harassed at Naughty Dog by a lead. My work environment became extremely toxic afterward.

What’s sexually harassing to some people doesn’t bother others. Some people are just to damn sensitive.
Did he ever say stop or just kept taking it and go to HR?
Not enough info to bash the whole company.

The hell....
 

Joeku

Member
In late 2015, I was sexually harassed at Naughty Dog by a lead. My work environment became extremely toxic afterward.

What’s sexually harassing to some people doesn’t bother others. Some people are just to damn sensitive.
Did he ever say stop or just kept taking it and go to HR?
Not enough info to bash the whole company.

Goddammit, Gaming Side.

You're to damn sensitive.

*barf*
 

Quonny

Member
Sony looks way, way worse in this than ND. ND at it's best has a bad egg that harrassed someone. Not anything to be taken lightly, of course, but it could only involve two people. It's hard to blame a company for what an individual does in secret. Sony, at best, involved dozens of people across many departments. Finance, HR, operations, and so on. This speaks loudly about their culture and is shocking and embarrassing.

If you're going to boycott something, boycott PlayStation. Their actions stink of a toxic culture.

Not to downplay the victim. It's horrible and this needs to be investigated by a third party.
 
In late 2015, I was sexually harassed at Naughty Dog by a lead. My work environment became extremely toxic afterward.

What’s sexually harassing to some people doesn’t bother others. Some people are just to damn sensitive.
Did he ever say stop or just kept taking it and go to HR?
Not enough info to bash the whole company.

wow, you do know people like you are the problem with rape/sexual assault victims?
 

RoboPlato

I'd be in the dick
What even is this?
People love to jump on progressive focused companies for perceived hypocrisy

The story in the OP is absolutely awful and completely unacceptable but it only exposes an issue with Sony HR and business execs and a single person at ND. It’s a company of over 300. I have no doubt many of the people there are as shocked and upset by this story as we are.
 
Again nobody knows both sides. How many times has a friend or coworker told you a story about someone and the other person has a totally different story?!

Are we really going to question the victim here? This is why so many people have trouble coming out with this stuff.
 
In late 2015, I was sexually harassed at Naughty Dog by a lead. My work environment became extremely toxic afterward.

What’s sexually harassing to some people doesn’t bother others. Some people are just to damn sensitive.
Did he ever say stop or just kept taking it and go to HR?
Not enough info to bash the whole company.

Why on earth would you post this?
 

Septimius

Junior Member
In late 2015, I was sexually harassed at Naughty Dog by a lead. My work environment became extremely toxic afterward.

What’s sexually harassing to some people doesn’t bother others. Some people are just to damn sensitive.
Did he ever say stop or just kept taking it and go to HR?
Not enough info to bash the whole company.

I can't really gather myself to say anything but: fuck you.
 

Zeta Oni

Member
Genuinely asking, but would any heterosexual man actually be upset if a woman made sexual advances toward them?
Almost every straight guy I know would just view such a scenario as "suprise sex."


Unless David Hallard is homosexual, I'm going to assume his harasser was a man.

I don't even know where to start with this one...

What the fuck?
 
Genuinely asking, but would any heterosexual man actually be upset if a woman made sexual advances toward them?
Almost every straight guy I know would just view such a scenario as "suprise sex."

Unless David Hallard is homosexual, I'm going to assume his harasser was a man.

stop watching porn
 

Rad-

Member
But Sony is a multi-billion dollar empire. How are they paying out hush money? The accountants would know. The auditors would know. The entire HR department would know. I'm betting senior management would know.

Oh I wasn't really disagreeing with you. Just adding that a lot of companies don't even have HR and that's another reason why this is actually a lot more common than a lot of people think.
 

Tarrin

Member
Genuinely asking, but would any heterosexual man actually be upset if a woman made sexual advances toward them?
Almost every straight guy I know would just view such a scenario as "suprise sex."

Unless David Hallard is homosexual, I'm going to assume his harasser was a man.

What the fuck is this.
 
I've seen a few behind the scenes videos in one of the older Uncharted games in the bonus section and it looked like a damn nice place to work at to me. Dog walking around, good vibe all around. Well clearly not. As others have said it's very likely in every imaginable industry and that's downright depressing and sad.

And it was done by a lead he says, but I assume ND has multiple leads?
 
Genuinely asking, but would any heterosexual man actually be upset if a woman made sexual advances toward them?
Almost every straight guy I know would just view such a scenario as "suprise sex."

Unless David Hallard is homosexual, I'm going to assume his harasser was a man.
I don’t want people sexually propositioning me at work, no. Also, I’m married, I don’t want people hitting on me at the office.
 
Don't go crazy now, the 'company' didn't do that, a person at the company did. There is a difference. It's almost certain that the people doing most of the inclusion in these games are people that do feel that way, heck I thin kits' fair to say MOST people in gaming are pretty OK with diversity and inclusion, and things like 'not sexually harassing people'

Blanket statements like "ND ARE TERRIBLE" are absolutely ridiculous.

Things you can actually conclude from this are: One person at Naughty Dog is a scumbag, and whoever had their hands on this HR complaint at Sony HR are scumbags.

That's it. Anything else is you pulling your jumping to conclusions mat out and going ham on it.


People don't. Look at the post I quoted just above yours. That's not the only one like it in the thread. People can boycott the games and I'm all for it, demand better of the companies and call them on their shit, but don't just blanket throw vitriol at every employee there as people.

We can't even conclude that yet. Best way I can put it is I'm a Gator fan, and years ago there was a rape allegation against FSU QB Jameis Winston. Many of my gator friends already had the pitchforks out, and I said that while it's a serious allegation and if he did it I hope he pays, I can't automatically assume he did it. I still remember the Duke LaCrosse team and Nancy Grace assuming guilt in the rape case. I can only wait for more info in this case.
 

rivalneo

Neo Member
Nah, this is the difference between one person harassing someone, and the department designed to protect a victim instead joining in the victimization. Nobody is saying every employee at Sony or ND is a bad person, and anyone saying they'd boycott the entire company because of one person's actions is perhaps going a step too far, but when the company becomes complicit (which is the allegation here) then you're perfectly fucking right to blame the company. It forces the company to fix the systemic issue and not tolerate this shit in the future when you give them ACTUAL consumer outcry over their mishandling.
I agree and apologies I didn't voice this in my original comment as it is important to point out. Those involved in such decisions should of course be rooted out. As I said before. Most people just want to earn enough to get by, not have shit like this to put up with from people in positions of power.
 

Dice//

Banned
What's sexually harassing to some people doesn't bother others.

Some people are just to damn sensitive.

EmAEhj0.gif



bF9CuJP.gif
 

xxracerxx

Don't worry, I'll vouch for them.
Ok tell me what actually happened to him?
The fuck is wrong with you?
Genuinely asking, but would any heterosexual man actually be upset if a woman made sexual advances toward them?
Almost every straight guy I know would just view such a scenario as "suprise sex."

Unless David Hallard is homosexual, I'm going to assume his harasser was a man.
Jesus fucking Christ.
 

Dynasty

Member
Genuinely asking, but would any heterosexual man actually be upset if a woman made sexual advances toward them?
Almost every straight guy I know would just view such a scenario as "suprise sex."

Unless David Hallard is homosexual, I'm going to assume his harasser was a man.

Guess we know why type of porn you watch.
 

capnjazz

Neo Member
People love to jump on progressive focused companies for perceived hypocrisy

The story in the OP is absolutely awful and completely unacceptable but it only exposes an issue with Sony HR and business execs and a single person at ND. It’s a company of over 300. I have no doubt many of the people there are as shocked and upset by this story as we are.

Or maybe I feel slighted, as a POC, that people in charge of companies like this are using our struggles in their games as a way to profit instead of bringing those actual issues to light. But what do I know? I don't really have a voice, it looks like.
 

Servbot24

Banned
I never said they found it funny, but it leads me to believe the people in charge at Sony and Naughty Dog care more about the money they make off of promoting their agenda than actually trying to help the people who are oppressed.

Sony HR people, for sure. ND directors, I don't think we know yet. For example I'm not pinning this on Druckman for writing positive stories and then approving the firing - I have no idea how much insight any particular director had into it.
 

Lashley

Why does he wear the mask!?
Genuinely asking, but would any heterosexual man actually be upset if a woman made sexual advances toward them?
Almost every straight guy I know would just view such a scenario as "suprise sex."

Unless David Hallard is homosexual, I'm going to assume his harasser was a man.

9J0x1f3.gif
 

True Fire

Member
Genuinely asking, but would any heterosexual man actually be upset if a woman made sexual advances toward them?
Almost every straight guy I know would just view such a scenario as "suprise sex."

Unless David Hallard is homosexual, I'm going to assume his harasser was a man.

Do you have a job? Have you ever had a job? This is straight up delusional.
 

faridmon

Member
Man what a weekend. First Real Estate now this. Hope these scums gets exposed and work environment becomes a safer environment for women.
 

Boke1879

Member
I'm a POC, are you trying to put me down because I have an opinion? Because that's how that post came off to me. Anyways, it clearly shows that the higher ups only care about their bottom line way more than diversity.

Your post was stupid because it was just a hot take.

You literally said they only did that stuff just to look good. Like everyone in that company.

DO you think Alexandria Neonakis. The UI designer for these games and is HUGE in pushing inclusion with disabled gamers. Did it just to "look" good?

This is the issue when you go "Fuck ND" or "Fuck Sony"

The person who did the harassment needs to be gone if they aren't already, and whoever at HR needs to go as well.
 
In late 2015, I was sexually harassed at Naughty Dog by a lead. My work environment became extremely toxic afterward.

What’s sexually harassing to some people doesn’t bother others. Some people are just to damn sensitive.
Did he ever say stop or just kept taking it and go to HR?
Not enough info to bash the whole company.
I'm sorry, but are you out of your goddamn mind? "To sensitive"?
 

Septimius

Junior Member
Genuinely asking, but would any heterosexual man actually be upset if a woman made sexual advances toward them?
Almost every straight guy I know would just view such a scenario as "suprise sex."

Unless David Hallard is homosexual, I'm going to assume his harasser was a man.

Oh, yeah, I just love coworkers grabbing my dick. Doesn't need more context than that. Let's have some sex.

What the fuck, people.
 
Genuinely asking, but would any heterosexual man actually be upset if a woman made sexual advances toward them?
Almost every straight guy I know would just view such a scenario as "suprise sex."

Unless David Hallard is homosexual, I'm going to assume his harasser was a man.
OMG, dude. I don't even know what to say, except porn is bad for your brain. Seriously.
 

Ctlead

Banned
Genuinely asking, but would any heterosexual man actually be upset if a woman made sexual advances toward them?
Almost every straight guy I know would just view such a scenario as "suprise sex."

Unless David Hallard is homosexual, I'm going to assume his harasser was a man.

Come on man.
 

RRockman

Banned
Genuinely asking, but would any heterosexual man actually be upset if a woman made sexual advances toward them?
Almost every straight guy I know would just view such a scenario as "suprise sex."

Unless David Hallard is homosexual, I'm going to assume his harasser was a man.

Ummm, yes? There is a good chance those guys have morals/might be married? Straight guys arent all scum ya know.
 
In late 2015, I was sexually harassed at Naughty Dog by a lead. My work environment became extremely toxic afterward.

What’s sexually harassing to some people doesn’t bother others. Some people are just to damn sensitive.
Did he ever say stop or just kept taking it and go to HR?
Not enough info to bash the whole company.
I have to say that I hope you are never an HR manager or a manager for that matter. This is not a good statement and I advise you to do some research and some soul searching.
 

Kayant

Member
Some humans really were a mistake. Yeesh that was hard to read.

That HR non protection. Corporations sometimes...

Edit -

Also as per usual console wars is involved here. FFS people.
 

Joeku

Member
People love to jump on progressive focused companies for perceived hypocrisy

The story in the OP is absolutely awful and completely unacceptable but it only exposes an issue with Sony HR and business execs and a single person at ND. It’s a company of over 300. I have no doubt many of the people there are as shocked and upset by this story as we are.

FWIW I don't think anyone saying "Fuck ND" is saying "Fuck literally every employee of Naughty Dog because they allowed this to happen". Like these things tend to be, it's a power thing from higher-ups, in conjunction the money source (Sony), possibly leading to systemic issues. "Fuck the company" is not "fuck all of the people".
 

chubigans

y'all should be ashamed
I guarantee my HR department isn't secretly funneling thousands of dollars into hush money. Of course, it's possible that there's harassment going on under the radar, but I can assure you it's not ratified by the company. That isn't normal.

The fun thing about "hush money" is that no one can take it while telling anyone about it.

Almost every major company has termination packages in "sensitive" situations where they will pay money to keep a terminated employee quiet. Makes the company look good, "solves" the problem, everyone is happy, right? The much more rarer situations is when someone turns down that package. Which leads to revelations like this two years later.

I would be shocked if your company didn't have some kind of buyout plan. It's there to protect the company. It's extremely shady, but you don't get to be a big company without putting the company's needs first. It's necessary, it's gross, and a lot of people aren't talking about their own stories today because they chose the money, something that was extremely necessary to take for a large majority after being terminated suddenly.
 

bryanee

Member
Genuinely asking, but would any heterosexual man actually be upset if a woman made sexual advances toward them?
Almost every straight guy I know would just view such a scenario as "suprise sex."

Unless David Hallard is homosexual, I'm going to assume his harasser was a man.

....you're a tit.
 
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