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Voice actor calls for Bayonetta 3 boycott after claiming poor pay offer [UPDATED]

Original Bayonetta voice Hellena Taylor claims PlatinumGames would only offer her $4,000 for her entire role in the latest game.
TJ Denzer
TJ Denzer
Image via PlatinumGames
1

UPDATE #2 (10/18/2022 @ 3:23 p.m. PT): Several sources familiar with the negotiations that took place between Hellena Taylor and PlatinumGames have shared differing accounts of what was offered from Taylor's originally alleged $4,000 for the entirety of voice work on Bayonetta 3. According to reports at Bloomberg, PlatinumGames supposedly offered around $3,000 to $4,000 per session across five intended recording sessions that would have made for at least $15,000 altogether. Taylor apparently balked at the offer, countering with demands of an undisclosed six-figure amount and residuals on the game. Platinum apparently declined and, after further negotiations failed, took auditions for a new actor. Nonetheless, Platinum still supposedly offered Taylor a cameo on the game for one session's pay, which Taylor is said to have turned down.

For her part, Taylor remains adamant about the accuracy of her side of the story. In emails with Bloomberg, Taylor reportedly described PlatinumGames' story as "an absolute lie," and claimed the developer is "trying to save their ass and their game." Taylor also apparently stressed that she's fed up with the situation and wants to put the Bayonetta franchise behind her to focus on her work in theater. We are still waiting on an official statement from PlatinumGames or Nintendo, but Bloomberg's report seems to paint it as far more complicated than initially described. Stay tuned for further updates.

UPDATE #1 (10/17/2022 @ 1:13 p.m. PT): In the aftermath of Hellena Taylor's call to boycott Bayonetta 3, new Bayonetta voice actor Jennifer Hale has shared a statement on the matter. Being under NDA, Hale claims she can't say as much as she would like, but insists that she has not attempted to wrong anyone by taking up the role. More over, she both asks players to consider the larger collective of developers that have worked on Bayonetta 3, but also wishes well to all parties involved (presumably Taylor and PlatinumGames in particular). Hale's full statement can be found below.

Original Story: Bayonetta 3 was the source of a wealth of drama over the weekend, not because the game might be good or bad, but because the long time voice of Bayonetta herself has taken ire with PlatinumGames and its business dealings. Hellena Taylor claims she did not return to reprise the role of Bayonetta in the upcoming Bayonetta 3, largely because she was offered a paltry $4,000 USD for the entirety of the role. In expressing her frustration, Taylor has called for a boycott of the game.

Hellena Taylor shared details of her dealings with PlatinumGames over the weekend via her personal Twitter. According to Taylor, to come back for Bayonetta 3, she was offered only $4,000 for the role of Bayonetta. The offer was considered offensive and turned down. Taylor claims the franchise has made around $450 million and Taylor has voiced its star character since the beginning. However, with her turning down the role, PlatinumGames instead brought on Jennifer Hale to voice Bayonetta, a move which Taylor also finds highly offensive. Taylor has asked that fans spend the money they would have spent on Bayonetta 3 on charity.

There has been no statement from either Nintendo nor PlatinumGames on the matter. However, director Hideki Kamiya tweeted a response immediately following Taylor’s account of the situation.

“Sad and deplorable about the attitude of untruth,” Kamiya tweeted. Known for being abrasive and blocking people frequently, Kamiya then set about blocking various commentors that came at him over Taylor’s treatment until his account was seemingly temporarily suspended. Many believe it was an automatic response from Twitter when Kamiya started suddenly blocking droves of accounts.

Hideki Kamiya's tweet following Taylor's allegations about her pay.
Bayonetta 3 director Hideki Kamiya posted an abrasive tweet shortly after Hellena Taylor's allegations that caught the ire of the internet.
Source: Twitter

Nonetheless, Taylor has gone all-in on calling for the boycott of Bayonetta 3. The game has been much anticipated for years following a number of delays, so it remains to be seen what will actually happen. Stay tuned as we continue to follow for further updates.

Senior News Editor
Senior News Editor

TJ Denzer is a player and writer with a passion for games that has dominated a lifetime. He found his way to the Shacknews roster in late 2019 and has worked his way to Senior News Editor since. Between news coverage, he also aides notably in livestream projects like the indie game-focused Indie-licious, the Shacknews Stimulus Games, and the Shacknews Dump. You can reach him at tj.denzer@shacknews.com and also find him on Twitter @JohnnyChugs.

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