VTuber’s contract was terminated for allegedly leaking personal information

VTuber’s management company Hololive Production (Virtual YouTuber) breached an agreement with popular virtual streamer Uruha Rushia for allegedly breaching her contract and leaking personal information.

Hololive production has over 60 virtual YouTubers on the distribution system and over 43 million YouTube subscribers. Launched two years and seven months ago, Uruha Rushia now has more than 1.5 million subscribers on YouTube. Virtual live streamer official profile describes her as “a legal person from the Underworld Academy who is not very good at communicating with people.”

Hololive Production’s parent company, Cover Corporation, released it following statement:

Regarding ‘Uruha Rushia’, it was clear that she spread false information to third parties and leaked information, including information related to business matters. We have been investigating the facts regarding these matters.

For the above, we can confirm that she has committed the following acts: breach of her contract by leaking information she obtained from the company as well as communication via email. SNS [social media], both of which she is responsible for protecting; and cause damage to the company’s reputation, such as by disclosing false information to various stakeholders. As a result, we, as a company, have determined that continuing to manage and support her has become difficult and have decided to make this decision.

Hololive Production thanks the fans for their support and apologizes for it being placed in this location. At a later date, the company will announce details of the refund for Uruha Rushia birthday merchandise. It will also close her YouTube channel at the end of March.

“Please understand that we are taking this matter very seriously,” Cover Corporation added in its announcement. “We plan to put more effort into educating our affiliated talent on compliance issues so that similar incidents do not happen again in the future.”

Kotaku contacted Hololive Production and Uruha Rushia for further clarification on the matter, but did not receive a response prior to publication.

Based on ANNThere have also been speculations about Rushia’s relationship status, as well as whether VTuber is accused of disclosing personal information to another YouTuber.

Dexerto reported that Rushia, formerly known as Mikeneko Doro, tweeted issued an apology twelve hours before Cover Corporation’s announcement, writing that she was sorry for causing concern. She wrote that she was exhausted both physically and mentally, and her heart was torn into pieces. “Let me tweet this apology first,” she wrote, adding that she would say more in the next few days.

In a TwiCast stream on February 24, Mikeneko discussed the matter further, saying: “About the rumors in many places, I will be adamant. If people can refrain from spreading such things, I would appreciate it. She added that she will speak more openly when she is able to do so. You can watch the stream thisTranslated by YouTuber Marune.

The world of monetizing virtual YouTubers seems to be extremely secretive. The real life of the VTubers must be obscured for the sake of their image. These kinds of restrictions aren’t exactly new. In Japan, for example, talent agencies often forbid pop stars from revealing personal details like their love lives to avoid alienating fans.

The world of VTubers can be even tougher to maintain the illusion — and sell more merchandise.