Monica Rial Responds to Accusations of Using Her Influence To Remove Fans and Panel Guests from Cons
Dragon Ball Super and Boku No Hero Academia voice actress Monica Rial has recently responded to accusations that she was responsible for the removal of both a fan from an autograph line at Pensacon 2019 and fellow Dragon Ball Super voice actor Todd Haberkorn from a panel at Zenkaikon 2019.
On April 2nd, in response to a tweet discussing the Vice-Chair of Sakuracon filing an ethics complaint against lawyer Nick Rekieta, a twitter user going by the display name Spitfire claimed, in a 3rd-party account of the alleged situation, that Rial had removed their friend from the convention due to said friend cosplaying Edward Elric (the main character of the popular anime Fullmetal Alchemist, whose voice is provided by Vic Mignogna, the subject of the #KickVic and #IStandWithVic campaigns) while waiting in line to receive an autograph during a signing session at Pensacon:
Reason why I mention it was because, my friends were gonna take me if I did Rohan. My friend Zack Went to Pensacon dressed as Edward hoping to get his Bulma figure Autographed. Monica stated you need to leave and he was escorted out of the con. Was told to leave or be arrested.
— Spitfire (@Spitfir85432686) April 2, 2019
Yeah according to multiple witnesses she had an over abundance of security and, between him he got up to her table and she said you need to leave. 2 security guards escorted him out of the con and told him not to come back or he would be arrested for harassment.
— Spitfire (@Spitfir85432686) April 3, 2019
Rial would respond to these accusations by denying that she had personally removed any fan from the convention due to their cosplay and stating that if such an event had occurred, it was done at the direction of the convention staff without her knowledge:
Hey guys, I hate that I even have to address this but NO I did not have someone kicked out of my line for cosplay. That’s ludicrous. Anime characters are fictional characters. You can cosplay whatever you want and I’ll welcome you with open arms. 💗
— Monica Rial (@Rialisms) April 4, 2019
If someone was removed from my line, it was done so without my knowledge. However, this doesn’t seem likely because there were multiple Ed cosplayers who came through my line at Pensacon without issue. 🤷🏻♀️
— Monica Rial (@Rialisms) April 4, 2019
Now, if this person was being rude/aggressive then security handled it the way they felt best. But like I said, plenty of Eds, Tamakis, and Brolys have been through my lines with no issues.
— Monica Rial (@Rialisms) April 4, 2019
Pensacon would also respond to a direct inquiry by Spitfire regarding the incident, corroborating Rial’s statement that no such incident had occurred, to which Spitfire apologized to Rial for believing their friends alleged falsified account:
Well @Rialisms if the con says it didn’t happen looks like I get to choke the hell out of my friend congrats in the second time I defend you. pic.twitter.com/dHFwc7UtSu
— Spitfire (@Spitfir85432686) April 4, 2019
Though this incident appears to have turned out to be a false report, some fans were reminded of a similar claim against Rial which alleges that Rial was responsible for the removal of Todd Haberkorn from a panel at Zenkaicon. In response to a fan who brought up the alleged removal of Haberkorn, Rial stated that the reason for his removal from the panel was a conflict regarding the convention’s contracts:
you forgot the part where you mysteriously “kicked Todd out of a panel and wanted to rule the industry with an iron fist :p ” the stuff they come up with is insane.
— Mario Tainaka (@SlaveOfSuzumiya) April 4, 2019
I can at least see where they got the basis for that lie. I did ask to be removed from the panel. However, they chose to pull Todd because his contract stated he couldn’t do more than 1 panel a day and he already had one scheduled. 🤷🏻♀️
— Monica Rial (@Rialisms) April 4, 2019
The reasoning provided by Rial raises questions concerning the Zenkaicon 2019 schedule. According to the schedule, Haberkorn was relegated to one-panel per day, not including the Opening Ceremonies panel (which both Haberkorn and Rial attended):
Friday – 8:15 PM – Todd Haberkorn Presents: Show and Tell with Todd
Saturday – 9:00 PM – Todd Haberkorn Presents: (In)-Appropriate Night Time Stories for Kids that are 18+
Sunday – 12:15 PM – Todd Haberkorn Presents: A Todd and His Phone
However, prior to his removal from the panel, Haberkorn was slated to be a featured guest at The Voice Actor’s Panel, an appearance that was previously advertised by Zenkaicon. If Haberkorn’s contract stated that he was to only participate in one panel per day, it seems foolish that the con themselves would break Haberkorn’s contract by scheduling and promoting his appearance at a second panel. How Rial allegedly obtained knowledge of Haberkorn’s contract remains a curious unknown.
It is also curious that this alleged stipulation is seemingly only present in one voice actor’s contract: Haberkorn’s. Rial was a featured guest at five different panels, three of which occurred on Saturday:>
Friday – 7:00 PM – My Hero Academia Panel
Saturday – 11:30 AM – The Voice Actor’s Panel
Saturday – 4:15 PM – Meet Monica Rial Q&A
Saturday – 7:00 PM – CONversations: Monica Rial
Sunday – 11:00 AM – Acting 101 with Monica Rial
Michaela Dietz, the voice actor behind Amethyst in Steven Universe, saw her only three panels fall on the same day:
Saturday – 11:30 AM – The Voice Actor’s Panel
Saturday – 3:00 PM – Steven Universe Panel
Saturday – 8:30 PM – CONversations with Michaela Dietz
Furthermore, A Certain Magical Index and Boku No Hero Academia voice actor Austin Tindle also participated in multiple panels on both Friday and Saturday:
Friday – 7:00 PM – My Hero Academia Panel
Friday – 10:00 PM – Austin Tindle’s Raunchy Shakespeare
Saturday – 11:30 AM – The Voice Actor’s Panel
Saturday – 1:45 PM – Austin Tindle Q&A
Saturday – 3:00 PM – CONversations with Austin Tindle
Saturday – 10:30 PM – Guests Against Humanity
As of writing, no official statement regarding Haberkorn’s contract or his removal from The Voice Actor’s Panel has been issued by either Zenkaikon or Haberkorn.
What do you make of Monica Rial’s explanations?
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