Vic Mignogna famously worked for Funimation for many years and was the English voice talent behind characters like Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist), Tamaki Suoh (Ouran High School Host Club), Broly (Dragon Ball), and more. The 60-year-old voice actor was a popular guest at anime conventions in North America and Europe, recorded his own music on the side, and was a vocal Christian.

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However, in 2019 a series of accusations of sexual harassment made by voice actresses in the anime industry and convention attendees against Mignogna came to a breaking point, causing Funimation, Sony Pictures, and Rooster Teeth to all break their relationships with him. Mignogna claimed his innocence in the face of these charges, and pursued legal action against Funimation, Monica Rial, and Jamie Marchi (both starring in Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt) along with Rial’s fiancé, for defamation, tortious interference, and civil conspiracy.

Since the initial allegations and court case, Mignogna has continued to defend himself online, and has even crowdfunded some of his legal costs by fans supporting him. The Texas courts have since denied his appeal three times, and he has been ordered to pay the defendants’ legal fees of $238,042.42 USD. Over the years that the case has been going on, more and more convention attendees, convention staff, and other industry workers have come forward with stories and accusations of sexual harassment by the voice actor, including towards underage people.

Mignogna has continued to appeal to the Texas Supreme Court against these decisions, and most recently did so on November 14th, 2022. On December 30, his appeal was dismissed again. An additional $287,500 USD in contingent fees may be required of him if he continues to appeal the case, leading to a possible grand total of $525,542 USD if he is not found innocent.

The Supreme Court of Texas has the case listed as a “motion for a rehearing to be filed” on January 17, 2023, so we should get more information about the future of the case then. Many have already moved on, though, as it has been going on for so many years now, and Mignogna has disappeared from the anime industry and convention scene in the meantime. Only his most loyal fans remain at this point as they continue to stand by his claims of innocence.

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Source: AnimeNewsNetwork, Texas Supreme Court