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 areothers who insist on pushing creators' personal boundaries in an uncomfortable manner.
Chainsaw Man’sRyan 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, toaddress the troublesome situation he has been experiencing with certain fansof the shonen series and his work.
Ryan Colt Levy Puts His Foot Down Against Intrusive Fans
TheChainsaw ManVoice Actor Explained That Some Fans Have Made Him Uncomfortable With Their Invasive Actions
In the X post,Ryan Colt Levycalled 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 ofChainsaw Manaretaking 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 Manis more beloved than ever, witha theatrical film, titledChainsaw 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 theChainsaw Manvoice actor can feel safer going forward.
Chainsaw Man
Cast
Chainsaw Man follows Denji, a young man burdened by debt, who teams up with his pet devil Pochita to fight devils under the yakuza’s control. Released in 2022, the series portrays Denji’s struggle to achieve his dream of living a simple, peaceful life.
