PlayStation 5 (Photo Courtesy Of Sony)
An internal email sent by PlayStation president Jim Ryan left many employees upset that he did not take the opportunity to support reproductive rights.
The Thursday email stated that PlayStation employees “owe it to each other and to PlayStation’s millions of users to respect differences of opinion among everyone in our internal and external communities. Respect does not equal agreement. But it is fundamental to who we are as a company and as a valued global brand.”
While the initial paragraph disappointed some employees, they were further angered that after quickly addressing a very important issue, Ryan spent the majority of the email sharing something “lighthearted to help inspire everyone to be mindful of having a balance that can help ease the stress of uncertain world events,” which happened to be a reported five paragraphs detailing his two cats’ birthdays.
Ryan was further criticized after Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier reported a specific line about the CEO’s desire to own a dog.
“Jim Ryan’s email, seen by Bloomberg News, does not take a stance on Roe v. Wade or abortion rights but does declare “that dogs really are man’s best friend, they know their place, and perform useful functions like biting burglars and chasing balls that you throw for them,” the reporter wrote in a Tweet.
Jim Ryan's email, seen by Bloomberg News, does not take a stance on Roe v. Wade or abortion rights but does declare "that dogs really are man’s best friend, they know their place, and perform useful functions like biting burglars and chasing balls that you throw for them."
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) May 12, 2022
Ryan’s stance was also perceived as a stark contrast to a statement from Destiny and Halo developer, Bungie.
“At Bungie we believe that everyone has a right to choose their own path and that freedom is expressed across all facets of life,” the statement read. “The leaked draft decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade represents a blow to freedom in America and is a direct attack on human rights.”
Standing up for reproductive choice and liberty is not a difficult decision to make, and Bungie remains dedicated to upholding these values.https://t.co/zCjZZC2NkH pic.twitter.com/c0t4s4Xp1D
— Bungie (@Bungie) May 4, 2022
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