Bayonetta 3 voice actress Hellena Taylor defends her statements against Nintendo & Platinum Games; elaborates why she didn't reprise her role
Ahead of Bayonetta 3 launch, voice of the lead from Bayonetta 1 and 2 calls for the boycott of the game. Here's everything you need to know about the call for Bayonetta 3's boycott, why actress Hellena Taylor won't appear in the game, and more.
Bayonetta 3 is all set to launch on Nintendo Switch in another two days. Here’s a franchise that’s highly popular with fans and critics- however, except for the first installment, Bayonetta 2 is still not available outside of Nintendo. Regardless, ahead of its October 28 launch, the game is creating ripples for a number of wrong reasons as well. Hellena Taylor will no longer be reprising her role as Bayonetta as was announced earlier in October. About a week and a half back, she revealed some news that reignited the issue of voice actors getting paid less than what they deserve. There’s been a lot of back and forth since then, between Taylor, developers Platinum Games, and the new actress Jennifer Hale. Here’s everything you need to know about these developments.
Timeline of Events regarding the noise around Bayonetta 3
October 5
Game director Yusuke Miyata revealed in an interview with Game Informer, that “various overlapping circumstances made it difficult for Hellena Taylor to reprise her role”. Jennifer Hale was thus introduced as the new voice behind the lead. Hale has previously voiced female Commander Shepard in Mass Effect, Naomi Hunter in the Metal Gear Solid franchise, Ashe in Overwatch, and Rivet in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, amongst others.
October 15
Hellena Taylor posted a series of short videos of her contesting the statement of Yusuke Miyata, calling for the boycott of Bayonetta 3. She explained that she had to turn down the role of the lead this time, as Platinum Games was offering her a figure as low as $4000 for her contribution. She called it an insult, to her and to her talent. She added, “What they did was legal, but it was immoral”. In subsequent videos, she went on to explain how she was standing up for people “who do not get paid properly for her talents”. She also mentioned that she didn’t care for the NDA, they couldn’t seize much from her anyway, because she doesn’t possess much.
In a third video, it was revealed that the $4000 was not even the first offer. It was an “insulting” value that Executive Producer Hideki Kamiya stated only after she requested a reconsideration.
Part 3#PlatinumGames #Nintendo #Bayonetta #Bayonetta3 #Bayonutters #Boycott #NintendoEurope #NintendoAmerica #NintendoJapan pic.twitter.com/4ii7hBpCxo
— Hellena Taylor (@hellenataylor) October 15, 2022
The videos soon gained momentum on social media over the weekend, going viral with more than 9.5 million views.
October 18
Bloomberg journalist Jason Schrier revealed the accounts of two insiders from Platinum Games via a report, which differed from that of Taylor. Platinum Games had reportedly offered the mentioned value for “at least five sessions” of “four hours in the studio”, making it a total of $15,000. “In response, they said, Taylor asked for a six-figure sum as well as residuals on the game.”, wrote Schreier. After Hale was appointed as the new Bayonetta, Taylor continued to be offered a cameo “for the fee of one session”, which she declined. Regardless, Platinum Games was apparently quite determined to convince Hellena Taylor to be a part of the Bayonetta cast once again.
Platinum offered Hellena Taylor between $3k and $4k per session for at least 5 sessions, according to two people familiar with the deal and documentation viewed by Bloomberg. In response, the people said, Taylor asked for a six-figure fee and residuals. Negotiations fell apart
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) October 18, 2022
Statements from Hale- Oct 18 & 19
Meanwhile, Jennifer Hale posted a statement of her own, in support of “every actor’s right to be paid well”. She further urged everyone to consider that the game has been created by a team of “hard-working, dedicated people”, and to approach the scenario with “an open mind”.
With all the negativity now targeted at both Taylor and Platinum Games, and now Hale as well came in a second post from her, where she requests people to “just be good to each other.”
About Bayonetta 3: pic.twitter.com/e4VrclEQIm
— Jennifer Hale (@jhaletweets) October 17, 2022
THREAD 👇👇👇 https://t.co/qkKmHn5vhJ
— Jennifer Hale (@jhaletweets) October 18, 2022
there are lessons in this.
— Jennifer Hale (@jhaletweets) October 19, 2022
so many lessons.
let’s just be good to each other.
let’s start there.
and sleep. sleep is nice.
October 21
Platinum Games posted an official message in support of the earlier Tweets from actress Jennifer Hale.
A Message from PlatinumGames pic.twitter.com/5ym1JxtBBn
— PlatinumGames Inc. (@platinumgames) October 21, 2022
October 24
Schrier had included Taylor’s response to the disputing account from insiders from Platinum Games in his October 18 report itself. Taylor reportedly stated in an email that this was “an absolute lie”, and added that ‘she stood by everything she said in the video’. She elaborated on her take with further tweets posted on October 24. Here she elaborates on how their final offer led to something close to $15,000, as well as the lead-up to the offer for the cameo. She specifically mentions that “there were not “extensive negotiations””, and “any other lies, such as 4,000 for 5 sessions are total fabrications.”
Taylor denies this account. In an email to Bloomberg, she called that version of events an "absolute lie" and said that Platinum is “trying to save their ass and the game.”
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) October 18, 2022
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. See thread #PlatinumGames #Nintendo #Bayonetta #Bayonetta3 #Bayonutters #Boycott #NintendoEurope #NintendoAmerica #NintendoJapan
— Hellena Taylor (@hellenataylor) October 24, 2022
Regardless, the point remains that the whispers and sometimes debates regarding voice and game actors not getting what they deserve, continue to be legitimate. To this, we recall the 2016 strike of the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists union. It lasted almost a year. Same with this ongoing Taylor-Platinum-Hale dispute. A huge audience seems to be quite invested in it, gaining the attention of many other actors alike. Clearly, the issue now raised seems to have struck a chord somewhere. Ultimately, whether any of this is going to affect the sales of Bayonetta 3, is something that’s yet to be seen.
