Crunchyroll, a leading global anime streaming platform, is facing serious accusations from David Wald, the American voice actor known for his role as Hannes in Attack on Titan and other anime like Fairy Tail and SK8 the Infinity. On October 26 (IST), Wald publicly accused Crunchyroll of a severe privacy violation.
The allegations are shaking the anime community, as Wald claimed the platform opened his private mail and disposed of fan letters sent to him, in addition to keeping or redistributing fan gifts intended for him.
Crunchyroll’s Alleged Mishandling of Fan Mail
According to Wald’s statements on social media, he revealed that any fan mail sent to him care of Funimation or Crunchyroll over the past five years had not reached him. Instead, it was allegedly opened, discarded, and its contents distributed among Crunchyroll’s staff.
The voice actor apologized to fans, explaining, “I didn’t get it. I learned yesterday that @Crunchyroll opened my private mail, threw away your letters, and passed out any included items to their staff,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Wald’s tweet quickly garnered attention, sparking outrage among his followers and anime fans. The incident raised concerns about potential mail theft, and many users expressed disbelief at the allegations. In replies, Wald mentioned he had been emailing Crunchyroll officials for 24 hours without receiving any response.
His post drew a shocked response from fellow voice actor Daman Mills, who was taken aback by the seriousness of the claims. Wald confirmed his allegations, stating, “So, so, so serious. Possibly never more serious.”
Whistleblowers and Further Revelations
As the controversy escalated, Wald hinted at the presence of whistleblowers within Crunchyroll who helped him uncover the mishandling of his mail. While he refrained from identifying individuals to avoid putting them in jeopardy, he did share that he now possesses two unique items that were previously taken by staff from fan packages. In a follow-up tweet, Wald included a photo of fan-made merchandise that was part of one of the opened packages, expressing his hope that the items would be returned.
Wald also hinted at deeper issues within Crunchyroll, implying there might be more serious problems at play. In a cryptic follow-up, he alluded to concerns over workplace discrimination and a hostile environment, commenting, “Me, thinking: ‘…Jeez, it’s a good thing I didn’t tell them about the gay discrimination. Or the medical discrimination. Or the union busting. Or the continuous culture of fear.” This message suggested even more troubling aspects of his experience with the company.
Fan Reactions and Support for Wald
Wald’s accusations sparked an outpouring of support from fans and fellow anime voice actors. Some fans, including @alchimique and @jujujulieta, who were involved in the creation of the fan-made merchandise, expressed their frustration over the mishandling of Wald’s mail.
The situation took on a more serious tone, with @alchimique noting that the fan-made package had been sent with tracking information and could be used as evidence.
These events have left many fans angered, especially given the personal significance of the gifts and the years of fan support that have been ignored. As one fan remarked, “It was not in my bingo card that my first fanzine ever is also evidence of federal crimes committed by streaming service management.” The impact of these revelations has sparked broader discussions about the treatment of creators and fans by major anime streaming services.
