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I’ve been silent about this for almost my entire career and i can’t do it anymore. Sorry if this is rambling and messy, I’m scared shitless to out an industry legend like this but I can’t live with the secret anymore 1/2 pic.twitter.com/DpbhtuaoEP
— zoë “bi fieri” quinn (@UnburntWitch) August 27, 2019
We need to make sure that anyone with a story of abuse about any industry legend feels safe sharing their story. This is an absolute requirement for a fairer, more accessible, more accountable, and more welcoming industry (and society). https://t.co/j08Ug7Q5xb
— Rami Ismail (@tha_rami) August 27, 2019
The game industry is totally fucked. It was all built upon the outdated idea that "nerds are victims" and women are less than. No one is free from mistakes, but we need to make this industry better.
— Rex ? (@rexy) August 27, 2019
Support the women outing the monsters. No one should be too "legendary" to out.
Also sorry to everyone who I’ve avoided bc they seemed to know or be friends with him. I didn’t think less of you I just knew he wanted to shit on me whenever possible from what had circled back to me like the blacklisting and stuff and was worried you’d hate me before meeting me
— zoë “bi fieri” quinn (@UnburntWitch) August 27, 2019
This is a time when all the men who claim to be allies get to show their real values. If you work with or are in communities with predatory men speak up, speak to management, voice your concerns, demand consequences for predatory behavior.
— Anita Sarkeesian (@anitasarkeesian) August 27, 2019
i wrote a post that you should read
— Nathalie Lawhead (@alienmelon) August 26, 2019
calling out my r*pist & naming nameshttps://t.co/Cc3mHGfiBg
please read it
if you believe me please share it, please rt it, put it on full blast
i don't want any woman to ever get hurt by him again
[TW: sexual assault, game industry "legends"]
Game devs, please be sure to pay close attention to today's news. It's really, really important that you keep yourself informed and don't just tune out this discussion regarding sexual assault aligations in our industry. Don't just sweep it under the rug and forget the victims.
— Bryanna Lindsey (@glittervelocity) August 27, 2019
I have no idea what he’s doing now. As far as I can tell...he’s working on the same game he was telling me about back then. Go figure. In any case, Marc Ten Bosh can go fuck himself. I have never felt so inhuman and objectified and I nearly left because of it.
— ✨Carrie Witt✨ (@notsoseriouss) August 28, 2019
I deny this.
— Alexis Kennedy ? (@alexiskennedy) August 28, 2019
I have had a small number of fully consensual relationships with other people in the industry.
Everything else here is a malicious misrepresentation.
I have taken legal advice and I am making a police complaint about what seems to be a campaign of harassment.
Thank you to each of you for telling your stories, and everyone vocally supporting them for their bravery and inspiring others. Every abused person needs to know they can speak out and we'll have their backs, and every abuser needs to face consequences for their actions.
— Andy Baio ? XOXO (@waxpancake) August 27, 2019
Since we're on the topic of Alec Holowka and other game devs who are sexual assaulters, Luc Shelton of Splash Damage assaulted me and gaslit me and at least one other woman two years ago and plenty (former) mutuals told me to stay quiet about it but I won't ever shut up anymore.
— Adelaide ? PAXU (@ohadelaide) August 27, 2019
Video Games are having a #metoo moment. The toxicity from fans has been well documented for years but the toxic, abusive, predatory behavior between developers has mostly been spoken in whispers between trusted friends. I'm in awe of the bravery of those who have spoken up today.
— Anita Sarkeesian (@anitasarkeesian) August 27, 2019
There will also be many people reading this who won't feel able to share their stories - about Alexis, or about other abusers in the industry. Publicly or otherwise. To those people: I see you, I support you. Together we are more powerful than they can possibly imagine. Be safe.
— meg jayanth (@betterthemask) August 28, 2019
Fuck it. That this experience sticks with me years later... means something. This person in a position of power when VR was new made me feel small. I shouldn’t discredit my experience. Michael Antonov was a fucking creep to me at an Oculus event. Men don’t get to keep doing this. https://t.co/Q0vaIy20BK
— Autumn Rose Taylor ? #OC6 (@lusterly_) August 28, 2019
The abusers & predators who prey on young, naive, new, and eager folks in the industry, who are the most vulnerable of all, are the worst offenders IMO. They’re all terrible, but it takes a special kind of awful to actively seek out people who should be uplifted, and target them.
— ✨Carrie Witt✨ (@notsoseriouss) August 28, 2019
I have felt enormous shame for not seeing AK's abuses towards others sooner. I felt humiliated for percieving an older man's interest as professional when - in hindsight - it wasn't. How embarrassingly naive! But the shame and humiliation belong to him, not to me. #TimesUp
— meg jayanth (@betterthemask) August 28, 2019
An anon account has been naming abusers in the games industry. Alexis Kennedy is one of them. I can't speak to the motives of the anon, but Alexis is a well-known predator in the games industry. I have been warning people about him for years.
— meg jayanth (@betterthemask) August 28, 2019
Let’s quickly recap rebuttals to some frequently-asserted falsehoods about allegations of misconduct:
— Elizabeth Sampat (@twoscooters) August 27, 2019
- Just because someone treated you well doesn’t mean they treat everyone well.
- Just because someone has female friends/allies/fans doesn’t mean they treat every woman well
Three prominent video game developers were accused of sexual assault in 24 hours, & now the industry is having a #MeToo moment. I wrote about it here: https://t.co/QXHzHUu2Z3
— Lauren Kaori Gurley (@LaurenKGurley) August 28, 2019
I was sexually harassed at an oculus holiday party in front of about 10 other employees, several of whom instantly came forward to corroborate the story when I reported it to HR. the guy still works there. Oculus’s “zero tolerance” policy is a real soft zero, as it turns out https://t.co/4i6CO8KMoT
— Katie Chironis (@kchironis) August 28, 2019
there are still like 3 known massive game industry creeps who didn’t get outed yesterday and i totally understand why—the men who do the most damage also have career-ruining levels of industry clout.
— Katie Chironis (@kchironis) August 27, 2019
but also: creeps, better pack your bags. your day is coming.
In case anyone isn’t aware, Michael Antonov was a co-founder for Oculus. Not the most infamous co-founder for that company (lol)... but someone who knew better.
— Autumn Rose Taylor ? #OC6 (@lusterly_) August 28, 2019
2/2 pic.twitter.com/cbNLd84PSG
— zoë “bi fieri” quinn (@UnburntWitch) August 27, 2019
As some abusers in the game industry are bravely being called out today, remember there are hundreds who will NOT be called out.
— Lyndsey Gallant (@apocalynds) August 27, 2019
They thrive on a systemic culture of abuse-enabling and toxicity that we must dismantle.
Men, we need you to be TRUE allies. We need you to step up.
Their bravery is going to give courage to other women and non-binary folks to speak up and you can rest assured that this is a massive problem affecting and caused by the developers who make the games you love.
— Anita Sarkeesian (@anitasarkeesian) August 27, 2019
So let me remind you: Believe women
Alexis Kennedy has used his reputation and association with prominent women + minorities - including me - as a cover for his predations and abuses. The only way I can protect people from further harm is to state this publicly and explicitly.
— meg jayanth (@betterthemask) August 28, 2019
A few women have spoken about abuse in the games industry today and I really want to stress: making your abuse public is terrifying and vitriolic. You know how awful it’ll be long before you speak up. Please don’t be a part of the reason most women silently tolerate mistreatment.
— Alanah Pearce (@Charalanahzard) August 28, 2019
He made me feel crazy, pushing me away then guilt tripping me when I would try to move on. Wouldn't let me back in his flat if I had left while he was at work on my visits, which would have left me stranded in freezing weather for hours. Accused me of STDs and lying.
— Adelaide ? PAXU (@ohadelaide) August 27, 2019
The women that have shared your stories about abuse in the games industry today: I hear you, I believe you, and I'm so sorry. Please, please take care of yourselves.
— Ashly Burch ?️? (@ashly_burch) August 28, 2019
The stories I've heard from women in/around the video game industry over the years are utterly horrifying. Hold these men accountable. Believe their victims. This shit needs to stop.
— Lucy O'Brien (@Luceobrien) August 27, 2019
lot of abusers in the game industry huh
— P-O Desbiens (@Pioldes) August 27, 2019
hold them all accountable
I believe you all
this should be coming out, I know way too many women who stopped working in studios because of abusive devs
I was going to make it public anyway, but after I was told I should keep quiet because I could be marked as a potential risk by HR people, I couldn't wait any longer.
— Mina Vanir ? (@MinasMorGhoul) October 16, 2018
Please read it.
Please share it.
Please talk about it.https://t.co/FQQZDRx96v pic.twitter.com/Tb165jpM5B
Jesus Christ the messages im getting rn from other people he’s hurt. I had no idea it was so bad. Im so sorry I waited this long to come forward but now whatever happens to me I don’t think I’ll regret it
— zoë “bi fieri” quinn (@UnburntWitch) August 27, 2019
It's true. I remember talking to Zoe at the time (2011? 2012? It's been a while), and she'd tell me she was locked in Alec's bathroom for hours, afraid for her safety. https://t.co/9HM93M5MIW
— Patricia Hernandez (@xpatriciah) August 27, 2019
there are too many predators in games.
— alien invasion of one ? (@gamblignant8) August 27, 2019
Alec Holowka (music/programming, night in the woods) and Jeremy Soule (music, the elder scrolls) are just the latest examples of an industry that lets bad actors coast on reputation and hurt vulnerable creatives for years and years.
Today a lot of brave women gave me strength.
— Mina Vanir ? (@MinasMorGhoul) August 27, 2019
It's been two years now.
Last week I learned that I was not the last.
I hope what I'm going to do now will help.
I am not here to ruin your life.
I am here to keep you from ruining the lives of others.
His name is Vlad Micu. https://t.co/0Y7L7S8oDA
For all those in the video game industry who have experienced sexual misconduct in the workplace -- including assault, harassment, abuse & related retaliation -- @TIMESUPLDF is here to help & may be able to connect you to an attorney. Learn more: https://t.co/9wiNfEeCEA #TIMESUP
— TIME'S UP (@TIMESUPNOW) August 28, 2019
Oculus co-founder Michael Antonov accused of sexual assault https://t.co/5EKd7NHGX8 pic.twitter.com/f6GYO2djXP
— The Verge (@verge) August 29, 2019
One woman has accused Skyrim composer Jeremy Soule of rape. (He denies it.) Other women say he sent a lewd video and broke off professional relationships when they turned down his romantic advances. Some horrifying details in this story by @cecianasta - https://t.co/Kd3jJdXvJs
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) August 28, 2019
Our report: https://t.co/wf7pP7bl8D
— Cecilia D'Anastasio (@cecianasta) August 28, 2019
Another one
— FiLiA (@FiLiA_charity) August 29, 2019
“He made it clear that it’s ‘him or bust.’ He raped me.” says Nathalie Lawhead
“He made it clear that he had the power to make or break people’s careers” said Aeralie Brighton
https://t.co/wSu61BjrLd
Skyrim composer denies sexual assault accusation, “doesn’t agree” with the point of view of another accuser who says he sent her an inappropriate video https://t.co/Jia9PUrKRI pic.twitter.com/HU97NSpt3W
— PC Gamer (@pcgamer) August 29, 2019
Multiple men in the games industry accused of sexual abuse or assault https://t.co/hHMDqDxkVF pic.twitter.com/5rHzVz7jwq
— PC Gamer (@pcgamer) August 28, 2019