GTA San Andreas CJ Voice Actor Young Maylay Finally Addresses Rockstar Pay Controversy, Says Rumors Are “Bullsh*t”

Young Maylay, the voice actor behind Carl “CJ” Johnson in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, has finally addressed rumours surrounding his compensation for the iconic Rockstar game. The actor has clarified that he was never dissatisfied with the money he received and revealed that Rockstar Games even provided additional bonuses after the game’s release.

The clarification came during an appearance on The Final Mission, a show hosted by Ned Luke, who portrayed Michael De Santa in Grand Theft Auto V. During their conversation, Maylay discussed the long-running speculation about his relationship with Rockstar and explained why claims about a payment dispute were misleading.

The rumours gained traction following Maylay’s criticism of Rockstar in 2020, when he described the company as “culture vultures” for profiting from its portrayal of gang culture. Some fans interpreted those comments as evidence that the actor felt he had been underpaid for playing CJ. However, his recent remarks make it clear that compensation was not the reason behind his criticism.

Young Maylay Reveals Rockstar Paid Him More Than Expected

During the conversation with Luke, Maylay explained that he understood the financial arrangement before accepting the role because he had already signed the contract. He also pointed out that people outside the project did not actually know how much Rockstar had paid him.

The actor revealed that the studio provided unexpected bonuses following the game’s launch, along with a care package. According to Maylay, these additional benefits meant he received more than he had originally anticipated.

He also reflected on the opportunity the role provided, acknowledging that Rockstar could have made almost anyone famous by casting them as CJ.

Maylay directly addressed the speculation, calling the claims that he was unhappy with his compensation “bulls**t.” He added that if the payment had genuinely disappointed him, he would not have accepted the project in the first place.

His comments offer a clearer picture of his experience working on one of Rockstar’s most successful games.

Young Maylay’s Disagreement With Rockstar Was Not About His Pay

Although Maylay has dismissed the compensation rumours, his comments do not necessarily indicate that his relationship with Rockstar was entirely positive. His earlier criticism of the company concerned its portrayal and commercial use of Los Angeles gang culture.

In 2020, Maylay publicly expressed frustration with Rockstar, arguing that the company was profiting from a culture it did not belong to. Those remarks contributed to speculation about whether he felt financially undercompensated for his work on San Andreas.

Maylay also revealed another interesting detail about his involvement in the game. According to his account during the discussion, Rockstar had already created CJ’s character model before he joined the project. This meant his physical likeness was not used as the basis for the protagonist’s appearance.

His latest clarification separates two issues that fans had often connected: his criticism of Rockstar’s business practices and his personal compensation for playing CJ.

GTA San Andreas Actor’s Comments Recall Earlier Voice Actor Pay Disputes

The discussion also brings attention to previous disagreements involving Grand Theft Auto performers. Michael Hollick, who voiced Niko Bellic in Grand Theft Auto IV, previously criticised the compensation arrangement for his work, revealing that he received a flat payment of approximately $100,000 for around 15 months of work.

However, Hollick’s dispute also involved the Screen Actors Guild’s compensation structure for video game performers at the time.

Maylay’s latest comments provide a different perspective on Rockstar’s relationship with its performers. While he has not suggested that every aspect of his experience with the company was positive, he has made one point clear: he was satisfied with the compensation he received for playing CJ in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.