Crunchyroll Addresses Allegations of Voice Actor's Fan Mail Misappropriation
An experienced voice actor publicly declared on social media that anime giant Crunchyroll supposedly invaded his privacy by opening his personal emails, discarding his correspondence, and distributing fan-made souvenirs and creations among its personnel for the past half-decade.
Last weekend, ADR director and voice actor David Wald (known as Gajeel from Fairy Tail and Askeladd from Vinland Saga) apologized to his friends and followers on his individual Twitter account, exposing that any correspondence sent to him via Funimation or Crunchyroll over the past five years never reached him.
“I discovered yesterday that Crunchyroll opened my private emails, threw away your letters, and handed out any attached items to their employees,” Wald penned on October 25.
As of now, Wald’s post gathered more than 110,000 likes and 13,000 retweets. Even though Wald admitted that some of the plundered items were returned to him, he pointed out that they were “discovered on the company giveaway table.” He further mentioned that he believes Crunchyroll workers weren’t to blame for the circumstance because “they simply passed by the company freebies table and considered something looked appealing.”
“The employees are innocents, unwittingly trapped in an unlawful act commanded by systematically destructive management,” Wald wrote in a reply to a fan. Wald's statement echoed other worries concerning the company infringing on his privacy as a contractor by allegedly accessing his mail.
“Me, thinking: ‘...Gee, glad I didn't tell them about the LGBTQ+ discrimination. Or the health discrimination. Or the union-busting. Or the continuous environment of fear. Or the hostile workplace, or...’” Wald wrote in a separate Friday tweet.
It is worth mentioning that the company was accused of union-busting in 2022 when voice actor Kyle McCarley announced he wouldn’t repeat his role as Shigeo Kageyama in Mob Psycho 100 season three after Crunchyroll refused to negotiate a Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists union contract with him and the cast.
When inquired if this allegation qualified as mail theft, Wald replied stating that it categorized as mail theft. Legally, both mail theft and fraud are federal crimes in the United States. Those convicted of mail theft could face fines up to $250,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, according to the 18th U.S. Code § 1708. Mail fraud, on the other hand, is a federal offense where someone manipulates the U.S. mail with the purpose of tricking or deceiving someone for financial gains through misrepresentations or omissions. While their definitions are similar, the former offense may result in a guilty party facing imprisonment for up to 20 years, fines of up to $1,000,000, or both.
Naturally, fellow voice actors and fans reacted in his replies, questioning why the anime company would consistently mishandle Wald's fan mail—and became even more incensed when he revealed that no one at Crunchyroll had “responded to any of his emails regarding the matter.” This, in turn, prompted fans to bombard Crunchyroll's social media posts with links to Wald's tweets, asking for an explanation.
“Friends, I am profoundly grateful for your support and encouragement in my current predicament, and I share your anger. To the media who have reached out, know that I would love to speak with you, but I have several conferences to attend before I can do so,” Wald wrote in an October 26 tweet. “Thank you all.”
In an October 26 email, Crunchyroll issued a response to io9 about Wald's accusation, stating that they are investigating the matter.
“Anime fans have a special bond with dub voice talent, and that emotional expression is vital in sparking more enthusiasm for anime content. We are currently examining the matter regarding the claim of unmailed fan mail to a voice actor,” Crunchyroll wrote in their response. “We respect the privacy of all our voice actors, and we don't intentionally open letters or packages not intended for Crunchyroll. Any fan mail should be sent directly to talent and their management.”
Though the situation remains delicate and under investigation, Wald “mentioned on Twitter” that he plans on establishing a PO box so fans can send any artworks and letters directly to him in the future.
Too true. Except, now that I think of it, I’d say most companies defend their products with a lot of enthusiasm. We’re staplers, We’re post-it notes. We’re fragile, but we’re replaceable. We’re office supplies.— David Wald (@DavidWald_VA) October 27, 2024
The ongoing investigation by Crunchyroll might lead to significant changes in their handling of fan mail, as voice actor David Wald has announced his intention to use a PO box for future correspondence to ensure its safe delivery.
In light of the 18th U.S. Code § 1708, which outlaws mail theft as a federal crime, it becomes crucial for companies like Crunchyroll to adopt more secure methods of handling fan mail to avoid potential legal consequences.
