Bayonetta 3 has come under fire by the former voice actress for the Bayonetta character. However, reports from Bloomberg seem to show a different side of the story from developer Platinum Games.
Helena Taylor, the actress behind Bayonetta in Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2, alleged that Platinum Games was offering her a pay below what she believed was proper for her role. She claimed that Platinum Games wanted her to record for four sessions, each totaling about four hours in length. She went on to state that she would be paid only $4,000 for the entire gig.
Taylor explained the events in a series of Twitter videos, urging fans to boycott the release of Bayonetta 3, which is set to release in the next few days.
Helena Taylor also seemed to express anger towards the replacement VA, Jennifer Hale (Mass Effect‘s female Sheperd).
However, according to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, there may be more to the story than fans were initially led to believe by Helena Taylor.
In the Bloomberg report, Schreier spoke with people at Platinum Games who revealed documents that show that Platinum attempted to hire Taylor for five sessions that would each last four hours and that each session would have paid her anywhere between $3,000 to $4,000.
According to VGC, who corroborated the Bloomberg report, the offered $15,000 would have been a “significant increase” on Taylor’s fee from the second gme.
Taylor had apparently rejected the terms, and asked for a six-figure sum and residuals instead. Following “lengthy negotiations,” Platinum decided to hire Jennifer Hale to take on the role of Bayonetta. Taylor then reportedly declined a cameo offer that would have paid her the fee of one session.
Taylor told Bloomberg and VGC that the report was an “absolute lie” and that Platinum was “trying to save their ass and the game.” She also stands by what she said in the video.
“I would like to put this whole bloody franchise behind me quite frankly get on with my life in the theatre,” she wrote.
Bayonetta director Hideki Kamiya tweeted that Hale’s accusations were “sad and deplorable.” Hale replied that she supports “every actor’s right to be paid well,” but that she was “not at liberty” to speak on the situation.
Thanks for reading DZSH. Never miss an update when you sign up for our newsletter today!
Zainah Yousef
Zainah Yousef is the author of The Fallen Age Saga and specializes in gaming, social media advice, and reviews. She's been writing all her life and she probably won't stop anytime soon.
