Weta Digital, the special effects company behind the orcs, dragons and battle scenes of the Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy, has launched an independent investigation into allegations of a toxic work culture including sexism, bullying and pornography being shared on its intranet.
The investigation was ordered by the company’s majority owners, who include the director Peter Jackson, his wife, Fran Welsh, and screenwriter Phillipa Boyens. It followed a months-long investigation by local television station TVNZ that found complaints had been ignored by senior management at Weta Digital, and long-standing issues raised by staff had been covered up.
“The world’s most beautiful toxic waste dump,” is how one former employee described the award-winning company.
Allegations from former staffers include sexism, bullying, and harassment, as well as “pornographic mailing lists’”, hosted on Weta Digital’s intranet, in addition to staff openly viewing pornography in the studio.
The pornography mailing lists are alleged to have existed from at least 2002 to 2015, when they were shut down.
“There was a tradition at the time called Porn Friday. Every Friday staff members would email round porn images to the whole team,” a female former Weta employee told TVNZ. “The first Friday I worked there I was so surprised, intimidated and uncomfortable. You could opt out of receiving them, which I did.
“But there were still conversations amongst the team in my office every Friday about what images were sent round.”
Another alleged that pornography was openly shared and watched in Weta offices.
There were also allegations of sexual overtures and in some cases harassment.
It was also alleged that some chose not to complain because the company is a world leader in the special effects industry, and those who experienced issues feared being blacklisted.
In a statement to 1News, Weta Digital acknowledged “historical behaviour issues” at the company, including sharing of inappropriate content and commentary.
“As soon as it was brought to management’s attention, immediate steps were taken to stop this activity,” a spokesperson was reported as saying. “We regret this happened and apologise for any distress it has caused.”
The company said the complaints “do not reflect the Weta Digital of today” and that it now had “comprehensive policies and procedures” for supporting staff to come forward with concerns or complaints, which can be reported to managers, HR, volunteer crew advocates or an anonymous HR email address.
“There is no room for inappropriate behaviour of any kind within the company. If crew members feel uncomfortable for any reason, we want to hear about it. All concerns are taken very seriously,” it said.
New Zealand’s workplace relations minister, Andrew Little, said it was “imperative” the company carry out a thorough and independent investigation.
A spokesperson for Weta Digital told the Guardian: “In response to some recent concerns raised in relation to behaviours within the work environment of Weta Digital, the owners have commissioned a QC (Queen’s Counsel) to carry out an independent review.”
Jackson did not respond to a request for comment.
