FUNimation Cuts Ties with Voice Actor Vic Mignogna over Sexual Harassment Allegations
Everyone, we wanted to give you an update on the Vic Mignogna situation. Following an investigation, Funimation recast Vic Mignogna in Morose Mononokean Season 2. Funimation will not be engaging Mignogna in future productions.
- Funimation (@FUNimation) February 11, 2019
For over a decade, rumors of scummy activity at conventions have followed voice actor Vic Mignogna. Behavior ranging from sexual harassment of female guests, being a homophobic fundamentalist Christian diva (with sprinklings of anti-Semitism), and overall egotistical/jackass stunts. His behavior has been rumored and whispered about for many years, but those whispers are now becoming shouts
#Interest 'Far From Perfect': Fans Recount Unwanted Affection from Voice Actor Vic Mignogna • Years of rumored whispers came to a head in the past weeks as fans described unsolicited intimate displays from the Fullmetal Alchemist voice actor. https://t.co/9udIgWoj41
- Anime News Network (@Anime) January 30, 2019
-Inappropriately kissing/hugging underage girls by surprise (photos at the source)
-Giving his number to 15-year-olds
-Implying he could convert a Jewish fan to Christianity because they weren't buying his Christian CDs
-Taunting a victim of sexual assault
[CW Sexual Abuse and Harassment]Numerous victims have come out and shared their stories of being sexually harassed by Mignogna as well as other voice actors and cosplayers who are regulars in the convention circuit.
Voice Actress Monica Rial says she has had an unpleasant experience with Mignogna
Dropping in to say this: stop harassing my friends and colleagues. You want the truth? IT HAPPENED TO ME! I had hoped it wouldn’t come to this but here we are. I don’t owe you anything but if it’ll stop it from happening to someone else, then so be it.
- Monica Rial (@Rialisms) February 6, 2019
I’m only one voice on a sea of many. You may never hear the other stories. Those women don’t owe you anything. I’m being so vocal because I don’t want this to happen to another woman. He’s hurt enough people. He’s a sick man and he needs help. I hope he’ll come to realize that.
- Monica Rial (@Rialisms) February 6, 2019
Voice Actress Jamie Marchi recalls a time when Mignogna grabbed her by the hair and whispered something sexual in nature in her ear
I stand with the victims. My experience is minor in comparison to many others; however, having realized this wasn't an isolated incident, I felt compelled to share. pic.twitter.com/qC8Clp7JjQ
- Jamie Marchi (@marchimark) February 8, 2019
Prominent cosplayer Jessie Pridemore shared an experience of being sexually assaulted and how Vic Migogna used that knowledge to taunt how he could also "have" her
Facebook post
"So the part about Vic. The guy who raped me told everyone at an anime company I regularly worked with that we had fucked and that I was a con slut. He also told Vic. I played nice with Vic a lot because of my position in the community. At this point though, I had seen him be really shitty to people and staffers and knew he wasn't a good person. I ran into him at a con and said hi. We started chatting for a little bit and a couple fans ran up. I went to walk away, but he grabbed my arm and wouldn't let me leave. At one point, one of the fans starts talking about a series that he's in. I said that I actually really liked his role in it, I didn't even realize it was him (making a comment on how all his roles usually sound the same). He turns to me and says, "Oh I know why you like that series." He then slides his hand up through my hair (which was long at the time) on the back of my hair and tugs hard while saying "Because of _______." I was stunned. My heart sank. A friend ran over (there were a lot of witnesses) and asked if she needed to take me away. I just didn't even know how to respond. And if that wasn't bad enough HE DID IT A SECOND TIME with the implication that if the other voice actor had "had" me, he could too. I RAN off in tears. Called a friend of mine in said anime company and told him that if Vic ever touched me again, I would kick him in the balls, I didn't care who I was working for.
I know this will probably tarnish me getting invited to cons. It's why I started moving away from working for anime companies. I've become really good at ignoring shitty people over the years. But it is long past time that this comes out to light. Maybe one day I'll be strong enough to name the other one."
And now various conventions and businesses have cut ties with him. Of note is FUNimation for which Mignogna just provided the voice in their dub of the surprise hit Drag Ball Super: Broly film. They are also one of the biggest companies to dub and distribute anime.
Following sexual harassment allegations, Rooster Teeth has parted ways with RWBY voice actor Vic Mignogna. https://t.co/sj4ADVShyY pic.twitter.com/ryDbglkJWr
- IGN (@IGN) February 5, 2019
That's all folks! Vic Mignogna has been cancelled from future conventions for the 2019 year! Your voices were heard and con runners listened! #KickVic out of the industry altogether. pic.twitter.com/BccwQp0gKh
- Watch Carmen Sandiego (@Lena_De_Spell) February 4, 2019
Several other voice actors have shown support for the #KickVic campaign and shown support for Mignogna's victims
the fact that not a single person in the voice acting industry or really anyone who has worked at any convention ever is surprised even a little bit about vic mignogna says a whole damn lot. it’s been a long time coming
- SungWon Cho (ProZD) (@prozdkp) February 5, 2019
Thank you for sharing. We do run the risk of innocent people being accused. Hopefully not. Even if 10% of the stories are true about him, it’s too many. I know first hand accts from at least 5 women who he made very uncomfortable & I know for a fact he has been warned before.
- Tara Jayne Sands (@TaraSandsLA) January 30, 2019
By VAs “going crazy” do you mean VAs supporting the victims and sharing their own experiences? Because that’s not “going crazy”, that’s called “being honest”. You should probably pay close attention to them because those are the people who actually know what’s going on.
- Christopher Sabat (@VoiceOfVegeta) February 5, 2019
Where there is a giant ball of burning smoke and flames, there is fire. So please stop questioning if the giant ball of burning smoke and flames is fire. You only stand to burn the victims twice. Let’s support, love, and believe.
- Kara Edwards (@karaedwards) February 5, 2019
He makes people wait for him. Is that a power trip or is it disregard for anyone else’s time? Who knows? But even after a “tear filled apology” he pulled the same stunt this weekend making his fans wait unnecessarily for him.
- (((Neil Kaplan))) (@NeKap) February 4, 2019
Here... take a look. Am I embarrassed? Yes. Does it make me angry to look at and remember? Yes. But, I need to step forward and tell my story so that some people will back off and believe the others.https://t.co/0kZQOm0Nn6
- (((Neil Kaplan))) (@NeKap) February 4, 2019
I tried to play it off and make a joke. But it was vile and rude. But, he was popular, so what was I gonna do other than let it go and move on.
- (((Neil Kaplan))) (@NeKap) February 4, 2019
---
The man himself has only released this statement from January 20 as well as pulling the "two sides to every story" and how hate shouldn't be met with hate. No reactions from being cut off by FUNimation
pic.twitter.com/dbo5uI8V1v
- vic mignogna (@vicmignogna) January 21, 2019
source: 1/2/ 3/ 4/ 5/ 6/ 7/ 8/ 9/ 10/ 11/ 12/ 13/ 14/ 15/ 16