Seven Seas Takes Stand Against Employee Harassment Following KinnPorsche Controversy
Seven Seas Entertainment has issued an official statement on Oct 24, 2024, in response to recent reports of harassment directed at employees and contractors involved in their projects.
The publisher stressed its zero-tolerance stance toward bullying.
While the publisher did not specify any particular incident, the statement comes on the back of cover artist Billy Balibally becoming targets of online abuse.
The harassment stems from Balibally’s involvement as the cover artist for the Taiwanese edition of KinnPorsche, a project tainted by controversy involving the novel’s authors, Poi and Yok, collectively known as Daemi.
Several fans had targeted Balibally for their association with the book, despite the artist reiterating they had no direct connection to the disputes surrounding the series.
In , Seven Seas explained that those working on their projects are often unfairly blamed for controversies surrounding other parties associated with a title.
“Whether someone is an employee of Seven Seas or a contractor hired for a specific role on a title or series, they are not accountable for the behavior of third parties connected to the project
The publisher urged fans to channel complaints about their publications directly to Seven Seas using the contact form on their website, instead of attacking the individuals involved in the creative process.
“While we value the opinions of our fans, we will not tolerate mistreatment or harassment toward the people who work on our books
Billy Balibally also clarifying their lack of involvement in the controversy.
“I have no involvement whatsoever in the disputes between the original authors and the drama actors,” Balibally said. “When I accepted the commission and completed the cover artwork, I had no knowledge of these issues from Japan.
Balibally expressed regret over the situation, adding, “Although I was unaware, I created the illustrations sincerely, and it saddens me deeply to see this situation unfold. I am very sorry for any concern this has caused my readers.”
Other regarding the harassment of the artist.
Background on the KinnPorsche Controversy
The harassment surrounding the project is tied to serious allegations against the authors of the KinnPorsche
Known collectively as Daemi, the pair has faced backlash after fans uncovered multiple instances of inappropriate behavior involving the actors of the KinnPorsche television adaptation.
One incident involved Poi admitting to during the filming of the series.
She claimed she was “teaching Barcode how to be a good actor” by instructing him to give massages to her and Yok.
in the past. While it got initially brushed off, the authors later got serious backlash from that incident too.
These incidents caused widespread outrage among fans, many of whom demanded accountability from those involved with the series.
Additionally, controversy arose around .
Poi publicly accused Build of misconduct, leading to a highly publicized fallout that affected both the actor’s reputation and career.
Fans have since become divided over the situation, with some defending the actors and others holding the authors accountable for their actions.
Seven Seas Entertainment announced its acquisition of the English-language licensing rights for the KinnPorsche novel in 2023, with a cover being revealed in May 2024. The novel officially released in September 2024, amid criticism from certain sections of the fanbase.