According to Polygon, he media and entertainment production company Rooster Teeth, which is behind popular the anime series RWBY, announced that voice actor Vic Mignogna has been removed from the series following allegations of sexual misconduct. The company is ending all associations with Mignogna.
If you are a fan of anime, the name Vic Mignogna is one you’d be familiar with in the world of dubbed voice acting. Best know for being Edward Elric on Fullmetal Alchemist, he was also in the new Dragon Ball Super: Broly, Vampire Knight, D.N. Angel, Yu Yu Hakusho, Saiyuki, etc.
Basically, pick a dub anime and there is a chance he’d be in it. Which is why the recent accusations against Mignogna have been discussed so broadly in the anime community: many of us grew up with shows he has starred in and have long been fans of his work.
Anime News Network reported late last month about the accounts of female fans who shared incidents of Mignogna’s alleged “homophobia, rude behavior, and most concerning, making unwanted physical advances on female con-goers” in a thread that spread with over 4,000 and over 400 comments, detailing incidents of “unwanted and unsolicited physical affection.”
The response from the industry is a mix of people defending Mignogna, but also a loud segment of people standing up in support of the women. One of the biggest voices in this conversation is Monica Rial, who is the voice of Bulma in Dragon Ball Super. Rial addresses that the rumors about Mignogna have been around for over a decade, but that no one was really listening until now.
This behavior has been going on for 15+ years. We’re not going to allow it anymore.
— Monica Rial (@Rialisms) February 4, 2019
Nope, not true. We’ve been screaming for years. Unfortunately, we’re just voice actors so nobody listens. The only difference now is that I’m not fearful of damaging my career for speaking out. I don’t need or want brownie points.
— Monica Rial (@Rialisms) February 5, 2019
Fellow voice actor D.C. Douglas also wrote a thread saying that initially, he was afraid to share the Anime New Network piece because of any potential backlash that could come against him. In the end he decided that what was being reported, especially where minors were concerned, was more important than whatever fears he may have.
Article followed by thread.
1/13https://t.co/JrTL9PLHvy— D.C. Douglas 🍸 (@DC_Douglas) January 30, 2019
As a result of the allegations and attention it has gotten, currently, only five of 18 conventions Mignogna was scheduled to attend have kept him on the roster. Mignogna released a statement denying any allegations of sexual harassment, sexual assault, pedophilia, homophobia, and/or antisemitism.
— vic mignogna (@vicmignogna) January 21, 2019
Personally, I have had zero interactions with Mignogna myself, but through other frequent con-goers I have heard the rumors. I am glad that victims are being heard and that there finally is a space in time that is safer to speak their truth.
Conventions, while fun, have often had consent issues. Slowly that has been locking down, with more explicit rules about conduct. As the investigations against Mignogna continue, it is also an opportunity for cons to examine what more they can do to protect fans, especially minors.
(via Polygon, image: Funimation)
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