The appearance of Erika Ishii at The Game Awards likely ended Brian Fleming’s career at Sucker Punch

The Game Awards on Thursday, December 11th, featured an embarrassing moment for Sony when cameras caught Erika Ishii, the actor for Ghost of Yotei, one of Sony's tentpole games, enthusiastically tossing popcorn into her mouth. She smiled at the camera even as some of it fell down her chest.

The following Tuesday (December 16th), Brian Fleming, head of Sucker Punch (the studio behind Ghost of Yotei), was removed from his position.

It is not a stretch to suggest these two events are related. While decorum in the United States may have shifted, professional standards remain high at the executive level - and in Japan, public image is of paramount importance.

My guess: The event happened Thursday night. It was likely discussed at Sony on Friday morning. HR and legal looked at Brian's employment over the weekend, and they spoke with him on Monday.

Sony leadership typically trusts their creators’ decisions, but Sucker Punch was likely already on thin ice due to the lower-than-expected performance of Ghost of Yotei. This public display by an already divisive actor amplified the controversy for a larger audience, likely killing any hope for the "long tail" sales the game might have otherwise enjoyed.

The bottom line: Don’t embarrass your boss.