Critics reacted with horror after billionaire David Ellison, a strong ally to President Donald Trump, tapped a controversial figure to help lead his newly formed megacompany Skydance.
“Deeply evil stuff happening [right now],” wrote writer and programmer Reyna Cervantes Tuesday night in a social media post on X.
Paramount completed its $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery on Tuesday, forming the company Skydance, putting countless studios and news networks — including CBS News, CNN, CBS and more — all under the control of Ellison. Also on Tuesday, Ellison announced that Bobby Kotick — former Activision Blizzard CEO — would help lead the company as a member of its board of directors.
Kotick has long been a controversial figure due in large part to a major workplace-misconduct scandal at Activision Blizzard, with The Wall Street Journal reporting that Kotick allegedly “knew for years about sexual misconduct allegations” but declined to take action.
It was Kotick’s relationship with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, however, that sparked uproar.
“As if this merger wasn’t bad enough,” wrote professional wrestler and wrestling commentator Matthew Rehwoldt.
Kotick’s relationship with Epstein goes back to at least 2012, according to emails released by the Justice Department (DOJ) earlier this year.
“Drinks tomorrow my house 530?” Kotick wrote to Epstein in April 2013, according to an email released by the DOJ.
Epstein responded by writing, “Great… see you then.”
Kotick would exchange several other emails with both Epstein and Epstein’s accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, who’s currently serving a 20-year sentence for child sex crimes. Kotick would also discuss with Epstein ideas about shaping video games in a manner so as to influence children with digital and real-world rewards.
“It’s almost like these positions are completely disconnected to the products these companies actually make!” wrote David Hollings, a gaming and esports producer associated with Blizzard Entertainment.
Oh God no!!!!
— John Hartsfield (@JackmoveJohnny) October 6, 2026