'Bayonetta' Developers Respond to Criticism From Former Voice Actor
Image Source: Nintendo Everything
It appears that the story behind the exit of former Bayonetta voice actress Hellena Taylor is more complicated than it seems. Last week, Taylor claimed on Twitter that she exited the role due to Platinum Games only offering her $4,000 to work on Bayonetta 3. However, a new report from Bloomberg has indicated that this might not exactly be the case.
According to an anonymous source from within Platinum, the company was prepared to rehire Taylor and offer her $3,000 to $4,000 per four-hour session and planned for at least five sessions, making the total fee at least $15,000. Taylor allegedly refused this and asked for a six-figure sum in addition to residuals on the game, which Platinum declined. After lengthy negotiations, they held auditions for a new actor, offering Taylor a cameo role for the fee of one session. Taylor declined that offer. This telling of events was corroborated by Video Games Chronicle, though their sources claimed it could be as four sessions.
RELATED:
Hellena Taylor denied this account, stating it to be “an absolute lie” and claiming that Platinum “trying to save their ass and the game.” She stands by everything she stated in the video and states she simply wants to move on.
“I would like to put this whole bloody franchise behind me quite frankly get on with my life in the theatre,” she said in an email to Bloomberg.
Jennifer Hale, the new voice actress for Bayonetta, has received harassment due to Hale mentioning in the video that she had no right to call herself the voice of the character. She released her own statement on Twitter in response.
Many are skeptical about the legitimacy of the report, stating that Platinum had not exactly been truthful regarding Taylor's departure. However, one reporter for IGN, Rebekah Valentine, released a statement defending Jason Schreier, the person behind the Bloomberg report, and the credibility of the statements from his sources;
Others remain skeptical, with some still not believing Platinum on this subject.
Regardless of the truth of the situation, fellow voice actors have stated that the message behind this remains the same: Voice actors deserve to be treated better and with more respect. This sentiment is echoed by several voice talents on Twitter, with some saying the rate is still too low.
The story is not as black and white as initially thought and is still developing.
READ NEXT:
Latest News
Featured
