Highlights:
* Chris Niosi has stepped down as the English voice actor of Honkai Star Rail’s Moze.
* The voice actor and animator has taken the decision in the light of backlash due to his past abuse scandal.
* Developers have also confirmed that the latest game version will feature updated voice lines (English) for the character.
Chris Niosi, also known as Kirbopher, announced on Thursday, July 25, 2024, that he will be stepping away from the role of Honkai Star Rail character Moze. Niosi, who is a voice actor and an indie animator, has decided amidst the backlash due to the past allegations of abuse. Posting via his official X account, Kirbopher wrote:
“Monday morning, I asked my agent to let MiHoYo know that I have made the difficult decision to step down from the role of Moze in Honkai Star Rail.”
For the uninitiated, a series of allegations surfaced against Niosi in 2019 via Twitter and Tumblr, which included one of his ex-girlfriends, who called him “an emotionally abusive a****le.” Following all the accusations of mistreating and abusing his friends, colleagues, and significant others, Niosi issued an apology in 2019 via Tumblr.
Five years after the allegations first surfaced, Niosi was announced as the English voice actor for Moze. Shortly after the announcement from MiHoYo, many fans criticized the developers and asked for the removal of Niosi. Thus, a week after the initial announcement, the voice actor and animator has parted ways with MiHoYo and Honkai Star Rail.
Chris Niosi To Take A Hiatus From Social Media After Stepping Down As Moze’s VA
In his statement, Chris “Kirbopher” Niosi addressed the backlash as he announced his decision to step away from the role. Niosi also acknowledged the allegations against him and urged the fans not to direct any hate towards those who supported him. For the unversed, VAs like Griffen Puatu (Sunday), Adrian Rudd (Sam), and Kyle McCarley had voiced in support of Kirbopher. Rudd and McCarley deactivated their X accounts, while Puatu faced severe backlash.
Post all criticism and backlash, Chris Niosi is taking a break from social media, as he concluded his statement by writing,
“I’ll be taking a break from social media, but before I do, I want to thank you for taking the time to read my words, whatever you think of me. And to MiHoYo, thank you for allowing me to be a part of one of your fantastic universes, even for just a moment.”
Moze’s Voice Lines To Be Updated In The Latest Honkai Star Rail Version
In the wake of Niosi stepping down as Moze, the developers have issued a statement confirming the updates in the Honkai Star Rail character’s voice lines. The latest Honkai Star Rail version will introduce the updated voice lines. Besides the formal announcement, MiHoYo has yet to comment on the recent developments at the time of the writing.
