UPDATE 9.26pm: New Bayonetta voice actor Jennifer Hale has shared a statement in response to a series of videos from original voice actor Hellena Taylor which highlighted the “insulting” salary offer made by Platinum Games to reprise the lead role in Bayonetta 3.
“As a longtime member of the voice acting community,” Hale wrote on Twitter, “I support every actor’s right to be paid well and have advocated consistently for this for years.
“Anyone who knows me or has followed my career, will know that I have great respect for my peers, and that I am an advocate for all members of the community.
“I am under an NDA and am not at liberty to speak regardring this situation. My reputation speaks for itself.
“I sincerely ask that everyone keep in mind that this game has been created by an entire team of hard-working, dedicated people and I hope everyone will keep an open mind about what they’ve created.
“Finally, I hope that everyone involved may resolve their differences in an amicable and respectful way.”
ORIGINAL STORY 2.04pm: Hellena Taylor, the original voice actress behind Bayonetta, has requested fans boycott the third game following an “insulting” salary offer.
Taylor, who voiced the character in the first two games, has been succeeded by Jennifer Hale for the third game for unknown reasons, until now.
In a series of emotional videos on Twitter, Taylor explains she was offered just $4000 as a flat rate to work on Bayonetta 3, despite her previous work and years of training.
“This is an insult to me for the amount of time that I took to work on my talent and everything that I have given to this game and to the fans,” said Taylor.
“I am asking the fans to boycott this game and instead spend the money that you would’ve spent on this game donating it to charity.
“I didn’t want the world, I didn’t ask for too much. I was just asking for a decent, dignified living wage. What they did was legal, but it was immoral.”
Friends, Worldlings, Bayonutters. Hear ye!#PlatinumGames #Nintendo #Bayonetta #Bayonetta3 #Bayonutters #Boycott #NintendoEurope #NintendoAmerica #NintendoJapan pic.twitter.com/h9lwiX2bBt
— Hellena Taylor (@hellenataylor) October 15, 2022
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She continued, asking fans to boycott the game “if you’re someone who cares about people, who cares about the world around you, who cares about who gets hurt with these financial decisions”.
She released the video to stand up for those around the world who “do not get paid properly for their talents”. She said the lack of money affected her mental health; once she was suicidal.
“Bayonetta always stands up for those with less power and stands up for what is right and in doing this, you stand with her,” she said.
In a third video, she explains how she auditioned once again for the role but received an “insulting offer”. She then wrote to game director Hideki Kamiya to tell him what she’s worth; she received a complimentary reply but with the $4000 offer.