VShojo was a Vtuber expertise company repping huge names like Ironmouse that simply wished one of the best for everybody concerned however flew too shut the solar whereas making an attempt desperately to lift extra funds from traders. No less than that’s how the now-shuttered firm’s CEO pitched its downfall this week. Followers aren’t shopping for it, although, and another Vtubers are already talking out about previous points the corporate.
To recap: VShojo was a Vtuber expertise company on the rise making an attempt to capitalize on the format’s rising reputation within the West. It raised an estimated $11 million in funds and signed over a dozen names, together with Vtubers with tens of millions of followers like Ironmouse. However those self same Vtubers lately accused the corporate of failing to pay them the cash they have been owed, together with $515,000 raised for charity by Ironmouse final fall in a record-breaking subathon on Twitch. Days later, VShojo introduced it was shutting down.
It was one specific a part of CEO Justin “Gunrun” Ignacio’s apology that’s been galling followers essentially the most, nonetheless. “I acknowledge that a number of the cash spent by the corporate was raised in reference to expertise exercise, which I later discovered was meant for a charitable initiative,” he wrote in a press release posted on X. No lengthy after, a neighborhood be aware proving that wasn’t true was connected to the publish, which continues to go viral on the platform.
“Justin claims to not know the aim of the funds, however he personally congratulated Ironmouse on the completion of her charity fundraising occasion and reposted Ludwig instantly mentioning that half the funds would go to charity,” it reads. There have been hyperlinks to the previous tweets in query, which embrace Ignacio writing, “YOU DID IT MOUSE!!” A tweet from VShojo’s Japanese X account additionally acknowledged the fundraiser.
One other Vtuber, Veibae, who left VShojo again in 2023, responded to Ignacio’s claims by mentioning her personal previous issues with the corporate. “I solely came upon I didn’t receives a commission for any of my sponsors after I had already signed the NDA,” she posted on X yesterday. “After 2 years, I’ve nonetheless not been paid again absolutely. So as to add insult to harm, additionally they demanded I needed to pay them again 10k for a number of the anniversary belongings which once they despatched me again months later, have been half completed.” She additionally accused VShojo of allegedly making an attempt to lowball income splits and sabotage her departure with rumors seeded on 4chan.
Based on Ignacio, the company “prioritized creators and neighborhood over short-term earnings,” however not many Vtubers appear to really feel that’s true. Ironmouse has but to reply to the claims instantly. “My mind is working on empty in the mean time,” she wrote on Friday. Based on a YouTube video launched earlier within the week, Ironmouse is presently pursuing authorized motion in opposition to VShojo.
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