Former Bayonetta voice actress Helena Taylor has clarified her original claim that she was only offered $4,000 to reprise her role in "Bayonetta 3," while at the same time denouncing reports denying her original claim.

It all started earlier this month (opens in new tab) when Taylor released a series of videos on Twitter. In them, she said that she had received a "final offer" of $4,000 flat to return as the voice of Bayonetta in a trilogy to be released this year. In a subsequent video, she suggested that she had received another offer, which she initially called "insulting," and ultimately declined the role.

She did not mention whether the offer was higher or lower than what she ultimately received, but a follow-up report by Bloomberg (opens in new tab) claims that Taylor was actually offered $15,000 for the voice work. According to the source, "Platinum Games tried to hire Taylor for at least five sessions, paying her $3,000 to $4,000 for four hours at the studio each." The report continues that she "demanded a six-figure sum and compensation." Hideki Kamiya, creator of the series, also condemned Taylor, tweeting: "The untruthful attitude is sad and deplorable."

Taylor responded to the report (opens in new tab) by calling it "an absolute lie," adding that Platinum Games is "trying to protect their asses and their game." Taylor then admitted that at least some of the reports were true. A new series of tweets appeared Monday morning, in which the actress said she "feels the need to protect herself and her reputation in the industry. [The first "insulting" offer turned out to be $10,000, upped to $15,000 after Taylor wrote a letter to Kamiya asking for her "worth"; the $4,000 offer turned down a second paycheck for a role in which she would "voice a few lines" for a cameo appearance This was almost a year after she had And she never asked for money for the signing, and when she did sign it once, she continued in an aside, "I donated 100% of the signing fee to charity."

What Taylor seems particularly bitter about is the claim that she demanded a six-figure fee, adding: "I'm a team player. I just asked for a fair and livable wage commensurate with the value I bring to the game," she added. She further condemned the press for refuting the first video. She said, "There are those who are trying to throw shade and discredit my statements. The industry is powerful, and there are powerful journalists. They are trying to protect their assets." Don't be fooled!"

Adequate compensation in video game voice acting is an issue. Despite this being a tricky situation, VAs are helping to pave the way for a real conversation about getting paid what they're worth; Brian Dechert of Detroit Become Human, "a AAA game by a studio that has made many games," is a Performers Union when it refused to register with SAG-AFTRA and offered "$4,000 for the entire game." Whether Platinum or Bayonetta herself is to blame is unclear, but this saga offers a peek behind the curtain more than any other. And it's hard to imagine that a muddled statement or call for a boycott will help anyone.