Luxurious gaming desk producer Wyrmwood Gaming has been accused of making a “harmful” surroundings for its employees in a brand new report from know-how web site Gizmodo. Reporter Linda Codega spoke with round 50 present and former workers to uncover a what they describe as a tradition of sexual harassment, office misconduct, and sexism — led by co-founder and CEO Doug Costella, who’s on the forefront of a number of allegations.
Wyrmwood, primarily based in Taunton, Massachusetts, is thought for its high-end gaming equipment and furnishings, like its modular gaming tables. Co-founders Doug and Ian Costella spun up the enterprise in 2012 and efficiently crowdfunded its picket gaming cube instances. Wyrmwood has had a prolific historical past with crowdfunding since then; through the years, it funded 23 initiatives on Kickstarter, the final of which raised almost $2 million for its “premier” modular desk. Gizmodo stated the corporate’s measurement greater than doubled through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wyrmwood got here underneath fireplace from workers earlier this 12 months when sexual assault accusations have been surfaced on social media. When Gizmodo started investigating these claims, the publication discovered an in depth historical past of misconduct allegations. Gizmodo described an incident in 2019 throughout which Wyrmwood media lead Bobby Downey allegedly masturbated in entrance of a feminine worker. Staff additionally alleged that Downey had purposefully saved ladies off the corporate’s reality-style YouTube present, Wyrm Lyfe.
“In line with sources, Downey’s excuses for not together with extra ladies embody statements like ‘ladies aren’t as humorous as males,’ and ‘the ladies at Wyrmwood are too awkward and aggressive to be on digicam,’” Gizmodo wrote.
The report additionally alleged that ladies have been not often promoted and described a harmful work surroundings the place “an worker almost burned their finger off on an allegedly faulty machine.” The corporate has been fined a number of occasions by the USA’ Occupational Security and Well being Administration; 4 violations are reported on OSHA’s web site.
Wyrmwood has not responded to Polygon’s request for remark. You possibly can learn the intensive report over at Gizmodo.
