Update: Former Bayonetta 3 Voice Actor Clarifies That She Was Offered More Than $4000 To Return

Update, 10/24/22:

Hellena Taylor, a former Bayonetta 3 voice actress has now released a new thread of tweetsShe clarified some things she stated in regard to Platinum Games’ “immoral” compensation offer. These tweets follow a report from Bloomberg that refuted Taylor’s original claims and added clarification from sources as to how Jennifer Hale, the new Bayonetta voice actor, came about getting the role. Platinum Games released a statement that asked the community for support. 

Taylor, Taylor’s October 24 thread. The voice actor states that she has “the need” to “defend myself and protect my industry reputation”. “Some people call me a lie and a golddigger.” 

Taylor initially stated that she had been offered only $4,000 for Bayonetta 3 voice Bayonetta. Switch will be available this Friday. Now she claims the $10,000 sum was her first offer. Then, she cites Bayonetta as a franchise worth 450 million dollars (not including merchandise), a claim that some industry professionals have denied. Neither Nintendo nor Platinum Games have released information confirming that Bayonetta is a franchise worth almost half a billion dollars. Taylor wrote to Hideki kamiya, in Japanese, following the $10,000 offer. 

In a letter, she wrote that “I thought as an artist, he’d understand.” tweet. He replied by saying that he appreciated my contributions to the game, and that he wanted to hear from the fans about how they felt I should voice their opinions. “I was given an additional $5,0000!”

Taylor tweeted “$5,0000”, which would be equivalent to $50,000. However, it is clear that Taylor meant $5,000. This brings the total to $15,000,000. After she declined the opportunity to speak for Platinum Games, she claims that Platinum Games did not contact her again for eleven months. On Twitter, she wrote that she was offered $4,000 by the studio to record some lines for the game. She also stated that any other lies such as “4,000 for five sessions” were total fabrications. Bloomberg’s reporting. 

She tweeted that there were no “extensive talks.” I’ve been told of absurd fictions such as my request for 250,000 dollars. I am a member of a team. Just asking for a living wage that reflects the amount of value I bring to this team was all I wanted. I was paid a shockingly low total of £3000 total for the first game. For the second, I was paid a bit more. She wanted me to speak up. “I have gotten a lot of interest in the game since my first Twitter account in 2011. 

Continue reading below for the original story as well as updates.

Update, 10/21/22:

Bayonetta 3 developer Platinum Games, the studio former Bayonetta voice actor Hellena Taylor accused of low-balling with “immoral” compensation (which has since been disputed by Bloomberg reporting – see original story below), has responded to the ongoing voice actor controversy surrounding its game. Taylor claims were not addressed by the studio. Instead, Jennifer Hale, a new Bayonetta voice actress, was supported. 

This is the complete statement from Platinum Games: 

Continue reading the original story below

Original Story, 10/19/22

Hellena, a former Bayonetta voice actor released videos on Twitter this past weekend, explaining why the character she voiced was not cast again. Taylor claimed she received $4,000 for the performance. 

Taylor was replaced by famed voice actor Jennifer Hale, best known for roles such as female Commander Shepard in the Mass Effect series and hero Ashe in the Overwatch franchise. Bayonetta developer Platinum Games told Game Informer in our cover story coverage this change happened due to “various overlapping circumstances.” Taylor was quiet on the issue, and many presumed this was due to non-disclosure agreements common in the video game industry. But, October 15th was a significant date. she released multiple videos explaining that she was offered “immoral” compensation, whipping the internet and Bayonetta fandom into a flurry of anger toward Platinum. 

But, there is a brand new BloombergStory further supported by Video Games Chronicle, reveals new details that show there’s more to this story and that Taylor’s claims are reportedly untrue.

According to Bloomberg’sSources who knew of the events and their outcome, Platinum decided to hire Taylor again to portray Bayonetta. She was offered $3000-4000 per session by the studio to perform the role. There were plans to record at least five sessions, each lasting four hours.VGC’sHowever, sources claimed that it may have only been four sessions. BloombergWe also reviewed documentation in order to verify these negotiations. One VGC’sAccording to sources, this $15,000 offer was much more than she got for Bayonetta 2. 

Taylor requested a six figure payment as well as residuals. Platinum declined this counteroffer and, after the two parties couldn’t come to an agreement, began holding auditions for a new voice actor. Hale was given the role. BloombergAccording to reports, Platinum offered Taylor a role in the game with payment for one session. Taylor declined. 

Taylor shared Bloomberg in an email that this recounting of events was “an absolute lie” and that Platinum was “trying to save their ass and the game.” 

“I would like to put this whole bloody franchise behind me quite frankly [and] get on with my life in the theatre,” she wrote in the email, according to Bloomberg. The publication did not respond to requests from Nintendo or Platinum. Taylor shared similar sentiments. VGC in private messages, according to the publication’s story. 

Bayonetta 3, available on Switch from October 28. 

[Source: Bloomberg, Video Games Chronicle]