Bayonetta 3: Original Voice Actress Calls for Boycott
Bayonetta 3: Original Voice Actress Calls for Boycott
In a statement, Hellena Taylor, the series' original lead voice actress, says that she declined to return for the next installment after being paid only $4,000 to reprise her part. As Nintendo's Bayonetta 3 nears its eagerly anticipated release date of Oct. 28, the video game franchise's fans has been rocked.
On her Twitter account, Taylor posted a statement. "How much did they value this? They offered to pay me what, exactly? The last buyout, flat fee offer to complete the entire game was set at $4,000. This is an insult to me, the time I spent developing my talent, and everything I've given to the fans and this game.
In the first action game in the Bayonetta series, released by Sega and created by PlatinumGames in 2009, Taylor provided the character's initial voice. Bayonetta is a shape-shifting witch with the ability to call out demons. Taylor's voice was used again in the 2014 sequel Bayonetta 2 developed by PlatinumGames in collaboration with publisher Nintendo. In addition to the main franchise games, Taylor is recognized as the Bayonetta voice actress for the fighting video games Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
Before addressing the issue explicitly, Taylor's omission from Bayonetta 3 had been causing some consternation among fans of the series. Jennifer Hale, who is regarded as one of the more well-known voice actors working today and has major credits including Halo 5: Guardians, Metal Gear Solid, and Mass Effect, voices Bayonetta in the new game.
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Taylor continues, "I'm encouraging the supporters to boycott this game and donate the money you would have spent on it to charity instead. "I didn't make a lot of requests. Just a fair living income was all I was asking for. Despite being immoral, what they did was legal. I made the decision to do [this] in order to support others who do not receive just compensation for their talents on a global scale. Fat cats take the best pieces and leave us with the stale scraps.
Taylor revealed that she had had melancholy and financial worries, which had gotten so bad that she "became suicidal" at one point.
The actress also provided a timeline for why she ultimately decided to leave the franchise, noting that she was requested to re-audition for the part before being presented with a "insulting" offer. She wrote the creator of the Bayonetta video game series, Hideki Kamiya, and got a reply saying that "the recollection of first meeting me as Bayonetta is a memory [he holds] dear." That letter was enclosed with the updated $4,000 offer.
"I have no qualms about signing a nondisclosure agreement. Even running an automobile is beyond my means. How will they proceed? Take my clothes, please. I wish them success," Taylor continued. "Bayonetta always defends the rights of people who are less powerful and the higher good. You support her by acting in this manner.
Kamiya has received criticism on the social networking site as his access to Twitter is restricted. Taylor's accusations have not been officially addressed by the developer, but as soon as the voice actor's statement started to get attention, he posted a cryptic message with the words "Sad and awful about the attitude of dishonesty."
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