Anime voice actors often become celebrities and amass large followings, and sadly, not every fan of these individuals is respectful. Although there are many well-mannered fans, there are others who insist on pushing creators' personal boundaries in an uncomfortable manner.
Chainsaw Man's Ryan Colt Levy, who voices the character Denji in the English dub, has been the unfortunate victim of this terrifying behavior recently. The voice actor even took to his X account, @ryancoltlevy, to address the troublesome situation he has been experiencing with certain fans of the shonen series and his work.
The Chainsaw Man Voice Actor Explained That Some Fans Have Made Him Uncomfortable With Their Invasive Actions
In the X post, Ryan Colt Levy called out "parasocial relationships," which is when a fan of a piece of media develops a one-sided connection to the object of their admiration, whether that is a singer, actor, or other type of celebrity. In Levy's case, fans who appreciate his voice acting work on the English dub of Chainsaw Man are taking their appreciation a step too far and prying into his personal life. He also stated that he feels "treated like an object," and disturbingly even notes that someone is "leaking into parts of [his] life," which is a serious violation of boundaries.
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In an additional X post, Levy elaborated that the entire situation has "been genuinely upsetting & freaking out people in my personal life," having negative repercussions for not just Levy himself, but his loved ones. Most anime voice actors adore meeting fans of their work in the appropriate settings, such as at conventions that they have agreed to attend, but when someone forces their way into private matters or attempts to obtain personal information, it can be absolutely terrifying for the actor involved. Levy expresses concerns for his own and his loved ones' safety, which are worries no voice actor should have to consider.
Levy’s Situation Brings up Disturbing Concerns About the Relationships Between Fans and Creators
His Post Sheds Light on the Importance of Healthy Boundaries To Ensure Everyone’s Comfort
Chainsaw Man is more beloved than ever, with a theatrical film, titled Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc, on the way soon, so Levy is at the height of his popularity, which unfortunately sometimes draws attention from the disrespectful side of the fanbase. The Denji voice actor has been vocal about his love for his fans and hosts many meet and greets, but it would be understandable if he pulled back from these experiences after the terrifying attempts to leak his information. Hopefully, Levy's post will be a wake-up call for the fans responsible for this behavior, and ensure that the Chainsaw Man voice actor can feel safer going forward.
Source: @ryancoltlevy on X
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Chainsaw Man is an adaptation of the popular manga written by Tatsuki Fujimoto, airing on Crunchyroll in the west. Denji, a young man working tirelessly for the Yakuza to pay off the debt, his late father saddled him with hunts devils with the assistance of his little friend Pochita, also known as the Chainsaw Devil. When the Yakuza kill him to gain a contract with another devil, Pochita saves Denji, and the two forge a contract, allowing Denji to gain revenge against the Yakuza. Now sought after by an agency known as the Public Safety Division, Denji joins a team led by the mysterious Makima. Denji now relentlessly hunts Devils in service of his newfound crush, Makima, slowly reaching their ultimate goal of facing the ultimate Devil.
Release Date October 11, 2022
Number of Episodes 12
Finale Year November 30, 2021
Cast Ryan Colt Levy , Fairouz Ai , Sarah Wiedenheft , Suzie Yeung , Reagan Murdock
Seasons 1
Writers Tatsuki Fujimoto