In a deeply troubling investigative report from Gizmodo, social media manager and show producer for tabletop gaming and furniture accessory maker Wyrmwood Bobby Downey is accused of numerous cases of sexual harassment perpetrated against his coworkers.
Downey, who is a key face in Wyrmwood’s YouTube series “Wyrm Lyfe,” appears in videos regularly alongside the company’s CEO, and was even the face of some of their recent Kickstarter campaigns, including their failed modular desk campaign. Wyrm Lyfe was under Downey’s supervision for years, which has been criticised in the past for tonedeaf behavior among other controversies.
Remember the infamous video where Doug steps down as CEO (Wyrmwood Goes Corporate), that features 17 minutes of Doug yelling at employees?
The unedited version is 25 minutes, and the employees yell back.
Wyrm Lyfe is “highly-edited propaganda.”https://t.co/jVpBPM3OlL
— linda codega (@lincodega) March 28, 2023
The article describes multiple accounts from former employees alleging inappropriate behavior on the part of Downey, with one current employee saying, “Bobby Downey is the worst person who could be representing our company.”
The article also alleges appallingly bad management at the highest levels, which has fostered a toxic company culture defined by misogyny, nepotism, disregard for the safety and wellbeing of their craftsmen, and more.
Bobby Downey, appearing in a promotional video for the failed Modular Desk Kickstarter campaign.
As the details of the report come to light, Wyrmwood consumers and viewers of Wyrm Lyfe are sounding off with their concerns and disappointment. In response to the article Reddit User u/so_frunk wrote, “I have spent an obscene amount of money on products manufactured by the craftspeople of Wyrmwood. If even a fraction of the allegations in this article are true, I can no longer support this company in good conscience.”
Last month, IGN reported on other troubling but entirely separate sexual assault claims, which seem to have kicked off Gizmodo’s reporter taking a closer look at the company in the first place.
When accusations of a sexual assault coverup at Wyrmwood Gaming went viral, I began to ask questions. This is not a story about those allegations, but about the accusations of unprofessionalism, disrespect, and deep-seated misogyny at the company.https://t.co/H3hKtSqfkD
— linda codega (@lincodega) March 28, 2023
Those interested in purchasing tabletop gaming accessories may want to consider Talon & Claw, Elderwood Academy, or Norse Foundry.
Travis Northup is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @TieGuyTravis and read his games coverage here.
