Anime News Network’s Editor-At-Large Mike Toole took to Twitter to call YouTube channels Clownfish TV and Lost Pause “Nazis” after they both covered accusations made against popular voice actor Vic Mignogna.
Not only did Toole call both of these channels “nazis,” but he also tagged YouTube in his Tweet in what appears to be a call for the streaming platform to censor both of the channels.
Toole would write in an now-deleted Tweet, “You can also be damn sure that the youtube nazis are jumping at the chance to monetize this. Great job lookin out. @YouTube.” The Tweet included a photo of Clownfish TV and Lost Pause’s YouTube videos.
Twitter user @NWC_Nation captured the Tweet:
@Kneon damn dude doesn’t look very happy with your videos on the situation. labled the clownfish fam as nazis and everything pic.twitter.com/ERCekEEuoi
— Ω ＧＵＮＴＺ (@NWC_Nation) February 5, 2019
Clownfish TV’s Kneon responded to Toole’s attack on him and his YouTube channel.
One of @AnimeNewsNet ‘s Editors called me a “NAZI” on Twitter for doing a FAIR AND BALANCED NEWS video about the Vic Mignogna situation.
He also tweeted @TeamYouTube to get me flagged.
We have been GUESTS at several Anime Cons!!!
Now I’m blocked!
How do I report @TwitterSafety ? pic.twitter.com/7qtMXSMjaZ— Kneon (@Kneon) February 5, 2019
Dude could’ve at least tweeted his concerns AT me instead of subtweeting and running like a coward when I called him out. On TOP of trying to get @RealClownfishTV flagged by YouTube.
FWIW I’ve been a guest at many anime cons and am a liberal.
I have ZERO respect for this guy.
— Kneon (@Kneon) February 6, 2019
A similar response would be issued by Clownfish TV.
So this Editor at Anime News Network called me a “NAZI” because I did a video about Vic Mignogna, taking a BALANCED view of the situation.
I said specifically I did not know where I came down on this. I have heard from both sides behind the scenes.
And now I am blocked. pic.twitter.com/iqzvXPmdpW
— Clownfish TV (@RealClownfishTV) February 5, 2019
Toole has been actively taking to Twitter regarding the recent allegations against Vic Mignogna.
I was 100% certain that there wouldn’t really be any long-term consequences. Like, even as he got dropped from the anime cons, he quietly booked a couple of more comic book show appearances. Then, yesterday, his peers started speaking up… and here we are. https://t.co/oShDGvnRaA
— Mike Toole (@MichaelToole) February 5, 2019
What’s most galling to me is the sheer volume of people, both on the ANN forums and here, that blithely scroll past pages and pages of firsthand testimony and photos and video, and are like “well, this doesnt prove anything, where’s the evidence???” sheesh!!
— Mike Toole (@MichaelToole) February 5, 2019
He even made his own allegations against Mignogna.
FWIW, I don’t have a Vic story. I’ve only met him once or twice in passing. I did hear one story persistently some years back, from 2 or 3 separate con execs: he would habitually request 2 hotel rooms, one for him, and one for his girlfriend, because they were very proper people.
— Mike Toole (@MichaelToole) January 30, 2019
That 2ndhotel room would sit empty most of the weekend, because of course he and his partner would share a room/bed; c’mon, they’re grown-ups! The extra room was purely a ‘what will the neighbors think’ deal. In retrospect, maybe he sometimes used it for his little club meets…?
— Mike Toole (@MichaelToole) January 30, 2019
In fact, Toole advocated for a “Vic Mignogna is awful” panel back in October of 2011.
Reading #AWA feedback thread. It’s mostly dubious tales about how awful Vic Mignona is. Con clearly needs a “VIC MIGNONA IS AWFUL!!!” panel.
— Mike Toole (@MichaelToole) October 5, 2011
However, he would also indicate that he believes “Vic is fine,” just a day later.
@spacetart Oh, I’m sure Vic is fine. Seemingly every single bad story about him is secondhand. I just think the phenomenon is funny.
— Mike Toole (@MichaelToole) October 6, 2011
Mignogna has addressed the allegations on Twitter and apologized “to any convention staff member who ever felt I was anything less than kind and grateful to be included in their event.” He also apologized “to anyyone who ever felt my interaction with them (a hug or a kiss on the cheek or forehead) was crossing a line.”
— vic mignogna (@vicmignogna) January 21, 2019
Mignogna would go into further detail at an appearance at Bak-Anime 2019.
Despite Mignogna denying the allegations, it appears that he has suffered consequences due to the accusations. Rooster Teeth fired him from his voice work on Qrow Branwen on RWBY.
Rooster Teeth announced on February 5th:
“Effective today, Vic Mignogna is no longer a part of the cast of RWBY and Rooster Teeth is ending all associations with Mignogna. This will not affect the creative content of RWBY.”
According to FanCons, Mignogna has seen a number of conventions withdraw their invitation to him. They include:
- Anime NYC 2019
- Kamcha Con UK 2019
- Religh Supercon 2019
- Florida Supercon 2019
- Rangerstop & Pop Con 2019
- Phoenix Fan Fusion 2019
- Kamcha Con 2019
- Kawaii Kon 2019
- Emerald City Comic Con 2019
- Kami Con 2019.
Anime Milwaukee 2019, Ancient City Con 2019, and Planet Comicon Kansas City 2019 are marked as a “cancelled appearance.” In 2018, Mignogna only had two cancelled appearances.