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Time of India
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ex-Ubisoft execs on trial in France for workplace harassment, including bizarre claims of farting at staff
Who are the accused? Live Events FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Three ex-bosses from Ubisoft are on trial in France for bullying and sexual harassment. The French court heard shocking stories from former staff, mostly women, about the bad behavior of these top bosses. Some of the disturbing things they faced, being tied to chairs, forced to do handstands, sex jokes, drawings of private parts stuck on computers, porn videos played in the office, and a boss who farted in their faces, according to the report by The woman said a manager even drew a penis on her arm during a video call with top leaders. The prosecutor Antoine Haushalter said this trial is a big moment for the video game world, and the #MeToo movement helped people finally speak up. He said there was a lot of strong proof that the bosses were mean and treated workers video game major Ubisoft, the force behind addictive games like Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Just Dance, was allegedly witnessing these incidents during the decade of 2010s at their HQs in Paris, with ex- employees labelling it a 'boys club'.Tommy Francois, 52, Former VP of Editorial & Creative Services is accused of sexual harassment, bullying, and attempted sexual assault. He once pushed a female employee into a lift after tying her to a chair before pushing the buttons of the lift to send her to a random floor. He made a woman in a skirt do handstands. She said she was scared and just wanted him to leave, as per the report by The a 2015 office party, he tried to kiss a woman while two others held her back. She shouted and escaped. Another woman leveled allegations of hair grabbing before a forced kiss at a gaming event in the US against Francois. HR told her not to make a big deal. She also said he showed her nude pics of himself, and once drew on her arm during a video call. Francois denied all the charges, as per Hascoet, 59, Former Chief Creative Officer was accused of bullying and sexual harassment. On a work trip, he said a woman needed sex and joked about doing it in front of everyone. A report by The Guardian claimed that while giving a used tissue to a young woman, he claimed that 'It's worth gold at Ubisoft'.He made weird sex sounds, joked about sex, and made assistants run personal errands like waiting for parcels at his house. Hascoet also denied all the charges and said he never meant to harass Patrux, 41, Former Game Director was accused of sexual harassment and bullying. He punched walls, pretended to hit people, cracked a whip near faces, joked about an office shooting, and even burned someone's beard with a lighter. He also denied all the charges, as per the report by The judges have now finished listening to everyone and will give their final decision later. This is the first major trial in the gaming industry after #MeToo. The prosecutor said sexism and abuse were hidden in this world, but now people are brave enough to speak up, as per are accused of bullying, sexual harassment, and bad behavior at is the first big #MeToo case in the gaming industry and shows people are speaking up now.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Time of India
Ex-Ubisoft executive on trial denies seeing office harassment
BOBIGNY: A former executive at French video game giant Ubisoft, on trial with two others for alleged sexual and psychological harassment of employees, denied on Tuesday witnessing any abuse in the office. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Serge Hascoet, the company's former chief creative officer, said that he had been unaware of incidents that prompted several employees to complain of regular public humiliation and hazing. He said he never heard any sexist or homophobic remarks or insults, but after hours of questioning admitted making some "misplaced" comments with sexual connotations to women employees. Overall, the atmosphere in Ubisoft's open-plan offices in the eastern Paris suburb of Montreuil was "studious and focused on work", Hascoet insisted, although he said that "water fights" did break out "when it got hot". Hascoet, in his 60s, is on trial with the company's former vice-president of editorial and creative services, Thomas Francois, and former game director Guillaume Patrux. Hascoet resigned from his post as chief creative officer after the allegations surfaced in the media. Francois and Patrux were dismissed for serious misconduct following an internal inquiry in 2020, and all three deny the claims made against them. Francois is the focus of the most damning claims of systematic psychological and sexual harassment over years, including watching pornographic films in the office and commented on women employees' appearance. He allegedly forced one skirt-wearing employee to do a headstand and drew on her face with a felt-tip pen before forcing her to attend a meeting. Francois is additionally being prosecuted for an attempted sexual assault. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Hascoet is accused of lewd behaviour and posing intrusive questions of a sexual nature, as well as racist comments and behaviour. Asked about the felt-pen allegation involving Francois, Hascoet said: "I don't remember that episode at all." When the court's judge asked about another incident, in which Hascoet's male assistant -- known for selling drugs -- brandished a knife to a woman employee, the ex-chief creative officer said "I don't know" how the victim took the armed threat against her. In Monday's hearing, several women who worked under Hascoet testified that he made them run personal errands for him, including picking up his daughter from school. Hascoet said he was forced to give such orders because of lengthy meetings, and because his wife was suffering from incurable cancer.
The Sun
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Ex-Ubisoft executive on trial denies seeing office harassment
BOBIGNY: A former executive at French video game giant Ubisoft, on trial with two others for alleged sexual and psychological harassment of employees, denied on Tuesday witnessing any abuse in the office. Serge Hascoet, the company's former chief creative officer, said that he had been unaware of incidents that prompted several employees to complain of regular public humiliation and hazing. He said he never heard any sexist or homophobic remarks or insults, but after hours of questioning admitted making some 'misplaced' comments with sexual connotations to women employees. Overall, the atmosphere in Ubisoft's open-plan offices in the eastern Paris suburb of Montreuil was 'studious and focused on work', Hascoet insisted, although he said that 'water fights' did break out 'when it got hot'. Hascoet, in his 60s, is on trial with the company's former vice-president of editorial and creative services, Thomas Francois, and former game director Guillaume Patrux. Hascoet resigned from his post as chief creative officer after the allegations surfaced in the media. Francois and Patrux were dismissed for serious misconduct following an internal inquiry in 2020, and all three deny the claims made against them. Francois is the focus of the most damning claims of systematic psychological and sexual harassment over years, including watching pornographic films in the office and commented on women employees' appearance. He allegedly forced one skirt-wearing employee to do a headstand and drew on her face with a felt-tip pen before forcing her to attend a meeting. Francois is additionally being prosecuted for an attempted sexual assault. Hascoet is accused of lewd behaviour and posing intrusive questions of a sexual nature, as well as racist comments and behaviour. Asked about the felt-pen allegation involving Francois, Hascoet said: 'I don't remember that episode at all.' When the court's judge asked about another incident, in which Hascoet's male assistant -- known for selling drugs -- brandished a knife to a woman employee, the ex-chief creative officer said 'I don't know' how the victim took the armed threat against her. In Monday's hearing, several women who worked under Hascoet testified that he made them run personal errands for him, including picking up his daughter from school. Hascoet said he was forced to give such orders because of lengthy meetings, and because his wife was suffering from incurable cancer. The trial runs to Friday.
The Star
04-06-2025
- General
- The Star
Ex-Ubisoft executive on trial denies seeing office harassment
Hascoët at the courthouse in Bobigny, suburb of Paris, on June 2, 2025. He said he never heard any sexist or homophobic remarks or insults, but after hours of questioning admitted making some 'misplaced' comments with sexual connotations to women employees. — AFP BOBIGNY, France: A former executive at French video game giant Ubisoft, on trial with two others for alleged sexual and psychological harassment of employees, denied on June 3 witnessing any abuse in the office. Serge Hascoet, the company's former chief creative officer, said that he had been unaware of incidents that prompted several employees to complain of regular public humiliation and hazing. He said he never heard any sexist or homophobic remarks or insults, but after hours of questioning admitted making some "misplaced" comments with sexual connotations to women employees. Overall, the atmosphere in Ubisoft's open-plan offices in the eastern Paris suburb of Montreuil was "studious and focused on work", Hascoet insisted, although he said that "water fights" did break out "when it got hot". Hascoet, in his 60s, is on trial with the company's former vice-president of editorial and creative services, Thomas Francois, and former game director Guillaume Patrux. All three were dismissed for serious misconduct following an internal inquiry in 2020, and all three deny the claims made against them. Francois is the focus of the most damning claims of systematic psychological and sexual harassment over years, including watching pornographic films in the office and commenting on women employees' appearance. He allegedly forced one skirt-wearing employee to do a headstand and drew on her face with a felt-tip pen before forcing her to attend a meeting. Francois is additionally being prosecuted for an attempted sexual assault. Hascoet is accused of lewd behaviour and posing intrusive questions of a sexual nature, as well as racist comments and behaviour. Asked about the felt-pen allegation involving Francois, Hascoet said: "I don't remember that episode at all." When the court's judge asked about another incident, in which Hascet's company male assistant – known for selling drugs – brandished a knife to a woman employee, the ex-chief creative officer said "I don't know" how the victim took the armed threat against her. In Monday's hearing, several women who worked under Hascoet testified that he made them run personal errands for him, including picking up his daughter from school. Hascoet said he was forced to give such orders because of lengthy meetings, and because his wife was suffering from incurable cancer. The trial runs to Friday. – AFP
Business Times
03-06-2025
- General
- Business Times
Ex-Ubisoft executive on trial denies seeing office harassment
[BOBIGNY, France] A former executive at French video game giant Ubisoft, on trial with two others for alleged sexual and psychological harassment of employees, denied on Tuesday witnessing any abuse in the office. Serge Hascoet, the company's former chief creative officer, said that he had been unaware of incidents that prompted several employees to complain of regular public humiliation and hazing. He said he never heard any sexist or homophobic remarks or insults, but after hours of questioning admitted making some 'misplaced' comments with sexual connotations to women employees. Overall, the atmosphere in Ubisoft's open-plan offices in the eastern Paris suburb of Montreuil was 'studious and focused on work', Hascoet insisted, although he said that 'water fights' did break out 'when it got hot'. Hascoet, in his 60s, is on trial with the company's former vice-president of editorial and creative services, Thomas Francois, and former game director Guillaume Patrux. All three were dismissed for serious misconduct following an internal inquiry in 2020, and all three deny the claims made against them. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Francois is the focus of the most damning claims of systematic psychological and sexual harassment over years, including watching pornographic films in the office and commented on women employees' appearance. He allegedly forced one skirt-wearing employee to do a headstand and drew on her face with a felt-tip pen before forcing her to attend a meeting. Francois is additionally being prosecuted for an attempted sexual assault. Hascoet is accused of lewd behaviour and posing intrusive questions of a sexual nature, as well as racist comments and behaviour. Asked about the felt-pen allegation involving Francois, Hascoet said: 'I don't remember that episode at all.' When the court's judge asked about another incident, in which Hascet's company male assistant - known for selling drugs - brandished a knife to a woman employee, the ex-chief creative officer said 'I don't know' how the victim took the armed threat against her. In Monday's hearing, several women who worked under Hascoet testified that he made them run personal errands for him, including picking up his daughter from school. Hascoet said he was forced to give such orders because of lengthy meetings, and because his wife was suffering from incurable cancer. AFP
