Key Highlights
- David Wald has exited his role as Gajeel in the English dub of Fairy Tail, citing abusive practices at Crunchyroll.
- Wald plans to disclose further allegations on his Twitch channel in the near future.
- Crunchyroll has yet to respond to Wald’s recent accusations concerning mistreatment.
David Wald, a prominent voice actor and ADR director, announced his departure from the character Gajeel in the English dub of Fairy Tail via his X (formerly Twitter) account. He emphasized that he will not be returning to work at Crunchyroll’s studio, fueling speculation about ongoing issues within the company.
Earlier in October, Wald took to social media to highlight serious concerns regarding Crunchyroll’s handling of private correspondence. He claimed that the studio had opened his personal mail over the past five years and shared its contents with staff members—a breach of privacy that came to light when someone sent him a package containing sensitive materials. This prompted an official response from Crunchyroll, indicating that they were looking into the matter.
In his latest message on X, Wald suggested that there are more allegations that he intends to share shortly, declaring the alleged abuses at Crunchyroll as “far too numerous”to list in a single statement. He plans to provide a comprehensive account on his Twitch account. Here’s an excerpt from his announcement:
Friends, I am not returning to #Gajeel in #FairyTail. I will not be going back to the @Crunchyroll studio. Their abuses are FAR too numerous to list here. But soon, I will tell you all of them, and I will do that here: https://t.co/aopGIjHTln Stay tuned. — David Wald (@DavidWald_VA) November 11, 2024
Crunchyroll’s Response to the Allegations
Previously, Wald mentioned that some of his undelivered items were later returned to him after being discovered on a “giveaway table”within the studio. He clarified that he does not hold employees at fault, as they likely believed the items were free giveaways from Crunchyroll.
As of now, Crunchyroll has not publicly addressed Wald’s recent claims. Their prior statement following the initial allegations included:
“Anime fans have a special connection with dub voice talent, and that emotional expression is critical in enhancing the love for anime content. We are conducting an investigation regarding the claims of undelivered fan mail to a voice actor. We respect the privacy of all our voice actors and do not intentionally open mail or packages not meant for Crunchyroll. All fan mail should be directed to the talent and their management.”
What to Expect Moving Forward
David Wald is expected to unveil more allegations on his Twitch platform soon, though a specific date for this announcement has yet to be revealed. It is likely that Crunchyroll will refrain from making a formal statement until Wald shares his new revelations. Overviewing the situation, while Wald has uncovered significant information, neither party has mentioned any ongoing litigation regarding these matters.
Who is David Wald?
David Wald is a well-known voice actor celebrated for his work in anime dubbing. His career began in 2005 with minor roles, but he quickly progressed to portraying major characters like Gajeel Redfox, Hannes in Attack on Titan, and Bulat in Akame ga Kill!!. He also lent his voice to Master Chief in Halo Legends.
Openly gay and a strong advocate for positive LGBT representation, Wald has directed dubs for various yuri and BL/yaoi titles, including The Stranger by the Shore, Kase-san and Morning Glories, Bloom Into You, and Love Stage.
For more details, refer to David Wald’s X Account and the coverage by Anime News Network.
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