Hellena Taylor “lied by omission” about what she was offered for Bayonetta 3
In her video she directly implied that she was only offered $4000 for the entire game.
This has not only been proven false, she admitted it wasn’t true.
What she was offered was $4000 for a “farewell cameo” after refusing a very reasonable and above standard rate (actually well above) offer of $15,000 for 4-5 sessions. This $4000 was offered to her AFTER she refused the $15k and asked for six figures plus residuals, THAT is why she was replaced.
At no point was she only offered $4000 for the entire game.
She also vindictively attacked Jennifer Hale, who replaced her.
The Bloomberg report cited multiple sources and internal documents that proved that the $15,000 offer was made, and that the $4000 was for a cameo.
Hideki Kamiya, who has been getting SLAMMED with attacks and threats since this story broke, said in a since-deleted tweet (most likely because of the NDA, just because SHE broke it doesn’t mean Kamiya/PG can) that she was offered $15,000 but turned it down because she wanted more. This was a few days before the report. There have been false claims about the tweet being fake, but multiple people saw it before it was deleted.
She has ADMITTED that she was offered and refused $15,000, but now she’s implying that the Bloomberg report was paid for by PG.
Another thing, PG never said it was due to “scheduling conflicts.” Their statement was translated from Japanese and from what I’ve seen it was actually more like “various overlapping circumstances” It’s basically corporate speak to avoid “bad blood.”
The truth of all this is she wanted a LOT more money than PG was willing to offer for such a small IP and was bitter about being replaced.
She lied by omission, intentionally leaving out critical details to create outrage.
She claimed that the Bayonetta IP was worth $450 million, a number she apparently got by adding up all the sales of the series on VGChartz and multiplying by 60. This is wrong on multiple levels, but is apparently what she used to justify wanting six figures.
The Bayonetta IP is not worth ANYTHING CLOSE to $450 million, even if you include the Smash Bros DLC.
And speaking of six figures, she mentioned a ridiculous $250k number in her latest tweets. Claiming that people were saying that’s what she asked for, I don’t know who said that or even if it was anyone beyond random Twitter users, but Jason Schreier never said it. All he said in his report was that she asked for six figures and residuals.
PG is well within their LEGAL rights to pursue this, both for her breaking the NDA and for defamation.
It would look better if they just let it go.
I’m not sure of the legal details about having to pursue things like breaking NDA to not set a precedent that it’s acceptable, though.
And no matter what you think of this situation it doesn’t change the fact that VAs ARE often exploited and underpaid.
But it just wasn’t the case here, not only that but what she did actually HURTS voice actors that are underpaid and exploited.
Support the game, support the developers who made it, support the VAs who worked hard on it.
There is clearly no need to boycott this game.
