As a fervent admirer looking back at the events unfolding, it’s clear that Barrett’s termination has been the centerpiece of the drama. In his own words, he claims that Sony orchestrated his dismissal as a cunning tactic to dodge a substantial payout, approximately $45 million—an amount that certainly isn’t pocket change! When the stakes are this high in corporate circles, things can get murky real quick. The ex-employee hints that he was made the fall guy, suggesting that his firing had less to do with performance issues and more to do with saving the company some serious dough. But here’s the intriguing part: Barrett maintains that the investigation into his behavior was merely a facade, a charade designed for show. He alleges that both the charges leveled against him and the methods used in the probe were nothing but a “sham.