Anime Voice Actors With Real-Life Feuds

The world of anime voice acting is often perceived as a collaborative and tight-knit community, but it is not immune to professional and personal conflicts. Behind the scenes, disputes over contracts, legal battles, and public scandals have occasionally led to significant feuds between actors and production studios. These rifts can result in recasting, long-term blacklisting, and polarizing debates among the fan base. Understanding these real-life tensions provides a deeper look into the complexities of the voice acting industry across both Japanese and English-language productions.

Vic Mignogna

In 2019, Mignogna filed a lawsuit against Funimation and fellow voice actors Monica Rial and Jamie Marchi. The suit alleged defamation after the defendants spoke out regarding sexual harassment claims. The legal battle caused a massive rift in the anime community and resulted in Mignogna being removed from several high-profile projects like ‘Dragon Ball Super: Broly’. Most of the legal claims were eventually dismissed by the court, but the professional damage remained permanent.

Monica Rial

This actress became a central figure in a high-profile legal dispute when she publicly detailed allegations against a former colleague. She testified about incidents occurring at conventions and in professional settings, leading to a polarizing debate within the industry. Despite facing significant online harassment from specific fan groups, she remained a prominent voice for ‘Dragon Ball Super’ and ‘My Hero Academia’. The court ruling in her favor concluded the legal dispute and solidified her standing within the voice acting community.

Akira Kamiya

The legendary voice behind Kogoro Mouri in ‘Detective Conan’ had a very public falling out with the show’s production team in 2009. The dispute primarily centered on contract negotiations and disagreements regarding his compensation. Kamiya announced his departure via his blog, citing a breach of trust with the producers. This event marked a rare instance of a high-profile Japanese voice actor publicly airing grievances against a major studio.

Aya Hirano

Once the most popular voice actress in Japan, Hirano faced a severe professional decline following a series of tabloid scandals and disputes with her agency. In 2011, she was banned from taking new voice acting roles for several years by her music label and management. This friction stemmed from her desire to pursue more live-action and musical theater work against the wishes of her representation. She eventually left her agency and successfully rebuilt her career as a theater performer while maintaining roles in ‘Fairy Tail’. This transition allowed her to reclaim her professional independence outside of the traditional voice acting idol system.

Takahiro Sakurai

Known for voicing characters in ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ and ‘Code Geass’, Sakurai faced an industry-wide backlash in 2022. It was revealed that he had been engaged in a decade-long extramarital affair, leading to significant friction with production committees. Consequently, he was removed from the ‘Mononoke’ film project and replaced in several other upcoming roles. The scandal caused a major rift between him and the studios that had relied on his voice for decades.

Tatsuhisa Suzuki

Suzuki faced a professional crisis after an affair and a breach of confidentiality were exposed in 2021. He reportedly leaked unreleased demo music and script details to a third party, leading to a feud with production staff. This resulted in his immediate removal from ‘Tokyo Revengers’ and his hiatus from the band Oldcodex. The incident eventually led to his temporary withdrawal from all public-facing activities to manage the personal and professional fallout. While he eventually returned to some roles, the fallout severely damaged his standing with major anime studios.

Chris Niosi

In 2019, Niosi admitted to various instances of emotional abuse and harassment directed toward colleagues and fans. This admission led to him being recast in ‘Fire Emblem: Three Houses’ and ‘Pokémon Journeys’. The backlash from fellow actors was swift, as many came forward to corroborate his behavior. This incident highlighted the increasing accountability within the voice acting industry regarding interpersonal conduct.

Toru Furuya

A veteran of the industry, Furuya stepped down from iconic roles in ‘One Piece’ and ‘Detective Conan’ in 2024. This followed his admission of a long-term affair with a fan and allegations of physical violence during the relationship. The public confession caused immediate friction with the management at Aoni Production and the series’ production committees. The fallout marked a significant turning point for one of Japan’s most respected voice acting icons.

Nobuhiko Okamoto

The voice of Bakugo in ‘My Hero Academia’ faced internal disciplinary action after a scandal involving infidelity was exposed. While he apologized and remained in his major roles, the incident caused tension with sponsors and production partners. This situation forced his agency to implement stricter public relations protocols for their talent. The friction reflected the high standards of conduct expected of idols and voice actors in Japan.

Daisuke Namikawa

Namikawa was embroiled in a scandal involving an affair with an employee at his own management agency. This led to internal disputes regarding the professional ethics of managing his own company while engaging in misconduct. Despite the controversy, he managed to retain his roles in ‘Lupin III’ and ‘Haikyu!!’. However, the incident caused a notable strain on his professional relationships within the voice acting circle.

Erika Harlacher

Harlacher became a prominent figure in the industry-wide debate regarding harassment when she stood in solidarity with those testifying against former colleagues. She used her platform to highlight the importance of a safe working environment, which led to friction with fans who defended the accused. Her public statements were instrumental in shifting the conversation toward accountability in the dubbing world. She continues to voice major characters in ‘Persona 5’ and ‘Genshin Impact’.

Todd Haberkorn

Haberkorn faced significant industry tension and social media backlash following allegations of misconduct in 2018. Although he denied the claims and continued working, the situation created a divide between him and several other prominent voice actors. Some colleagues refused to work alongside him at conventions, leading to logistical issues for organizers. The friction persists as a notable example of how unproven allegations can create lasting professional rifts.

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