Original Bayonetta voice actress Hellena Taylor has responded to accusations, in regard to her ongoing public dispute with developer Platinum Games. “It has come to my attention that some people are calling me a liar and golddigger. I feel the need to defend myself and my reputation in the industry,” she said on Twitter, amidst the controversy surrounding her “insulting” payment offer for voicing the character in the Bayonetta 3, launching October 28, exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.
Last week, Taylor put out a series of video tweets explaining why she didn't voice the beloved character in the newest Metroid Prime.
“They now have a new girl voicing her over. And I love actors, I wish her all the joy in the world,” she said in a follow-up tweet. “But she has no right to say she's the voice of Eva Green, even though, I was her parrot on the video game, The Golden Com.”
Following this, Platinum Games attempting to hire her for at least five sessions, lasting four hours each in the studio. She would be paid $3,000 (about Rs. 2,48,000) to $4,000 for each session. So, even if you take the lower amount and multiply it by five days of work, it amounts to $15,000.
Taylor has now come out on Hideki Kamiya, asking how much her contribution was worth. However, in the original video, when going over the discussion with Kamiya, the 10,000 figure was never explicitly mentioned.
“I thought that as a creative, he would understand. He replied saying how much he valued my contribution to the game and how much the fans wanted me to voice the game. I was then offered an extra 5,000!” she adds, bringing the amount up to $15,000. Unimpressed by the offer, Taylor claims to have declined to voice the game, until 11 months later, when she received a final “flat fee” of $4,000. “Any other lies, such as 4,000 for 5 sessions are total fabrications,” she explained.
Reminiscing on past jobs with the developer, she concluded by saying, “I was paid a shockingly low total of £3000 (about Rs. 3,75,000) total for the second. I wanted to voice her. I have drummed up interest in this game ever since I started on Twitter in 2011.”
Last week, new Bayonetta voice actress Jennifer Hale posted a statement on Twitter, expressing hope that everyone involved “may resolve their differences in an amicable and respectful way.” Platinum Games also released a statement, ing Hale in the game, and urging fans to refrain from hurling disrespectful comments at the actress.
Bayonetta 3 launches October 28, exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.