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Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg urged a UK tabloid to abandon reporting involving her former boyfriend, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
The Daily Mail was reporting on a temporary restraining order filed against Kotick by a former girlfriend in 2014. Sandberg reached out to the outlet's digital edition — MailOnline — in 2016 and again in 2019 concerning the reporting, sources told The Journal.
Sandberg also told the Mail that the former girlfriend dropped the allegations, The Journal reported.
Sandberg and Kotick dated for about three years, from 2016 to 2019. Sandberg has been the COO of Meta — the new parent company overseeing Facebook, Instagram, and other projects — since 2008.
Kotick, external advisers, and both Facebook and Activision employees were also part of the strategy to steer the Daily Mail away from reporting on the restraining order, the Journal reported. The MailOnline never published a story detailing the incident.
The parties wanted to stop the report over fears it could tarnish Sandberg's reputation as a crusader for women, the Journal reported. Her 2013 book, "Lean In," has become a popular material in the fight for gender equality in the workplace.
The Journal also reported that Meta, formerly known as Facebook, recently began a review of Sandberg's involvement and whether she violated company policy.
A Meta spokesperson pushed back on the Journal's characterization of the events, telling Insider: "Sheryl Sandberg never threatened the MailOnline's business relationship with Facebook in order to influence an editorial decision. This story attempts to make connections that don't exist."
Activision's board of directors told Insider that it is aware of the events.
"The Board, through its counsel Skadden Arps, has done a thorough examination of the facts and circumstances of the events, satisfied itself that there was no merit to the allegations, and notes that they concern a personal relationship that has nothing to do with the business of the Company," a representative for the board said. "The Board continues to have full confidence in Mr. Kotick's leadership and his ability to run the Company."
Kotick has been CEO of the gaming giant Activision Blizzard since 1991. The video game publisher, which is behind the popular "Call of Duty" game, became embroiled in scandal in mid-2021 over sexual harassment and discrimination allegations within the company. Activision has pushed back on those claims.
The Daily Mail did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
