HoYoverse, the developer behind the critically acclaimed gameGenshin Impact, has released a statement regarding the sexual harassment allegations against one of its voice actors. The gaming industry, along with others, has struggled with addressing sexual harassment, but due to increased attention and efforts to support victims, public discourse has become more accepting of those speaking out against abusive behavior. This shift is the result of years of awareness efforts,including those that have reached the U.S. Congress, emphasizing the importance of addressing these issues.An unfortunate illustration of this problem is the ongoing controversy surrounding the voice actor ofGenshin Impact, Elliot Gindi. Gindi, who isbest known for voicing over Tighnari, has been accused of grooming and sexually harassing fans through social media platforms. The scandal erupted when one of his former Discord and Twitch moderators released a 19-page document containing chat logs from three accusers. The document claims that Gindi engaged in emotional abuse, blackmail, and made transphobic remarks over the course of late 2022.RELATED:Genshin Impact Fan Makes Impressive Xiao Cat FigureThe accusers allege thatGindi used his popularity withinGenshin Impact’s player community to engage in sexual harassment of fans, some of whom were minors at the time of the alleged abuse. In response to the allegations, HoYoverse has issued a statement expressing deep remorse for the harm caused to their fans, the gaming community, and all those impacted. The company has announced that both its internal teams and external partners, including its voice-acting studio, are working to find an immediate solution and will keep everyone updated on their progress.
Gindi himself also issued a statement, acknowledging some of the accusations are true and apologizes for his inappropriate actions. However, he vehemently denies the claims of grooming and coercion, insisting that all of his interactions were consensual and that he immediately rejected any individuals he knew to be underage. Additionally, he denies the allegations of exhibiting transphobic behavior.
The actions of Elliot Gindi have generated widespread condemnation from both theGenshin Impactcommunity and fellow voice actors in the game. In a recent tweet, Brianna Knickerbocker, the voice actor forGenshin Impactcharacter Hu Tao, emphasized the importance of holding him accountable for his actions and offering support to those who may have been impacted.
Sexual harassment is a devastating breach of trust and dignity that has no place in any workplace. Those who engage in this behavior must be held accountable for their actions and face the consequences of their choices. In the case of Gindi, who has already admitted to some of the accusations against him, it is safe to assume that his journey withGenshin Impacthas come to an end.
Genshin Impactis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, and mobile devices. A Switch version is in development.
