A long (and personal) rant about whatās happened at RoosterTeeth (overdue I know)
Itās taken me a while to really sit and think through this. I had more things written when I was running on raw emotion, but Iāve since dialled it back. I didnāt want my last post on here to be the last thing I say about it. So, with that out of the way;
The reality of how bad things had gotten at RoosterTeeth hit me after the layoffs, and the Black Lives Matter movement when Mica Burton expressed how she was actually treated by some people behind the scenes. I really felt for her on that one Off Topic episode.
For years, RoosterTeeth had always preached about how fun their workplace was and how they were all like a family. So many fans wanted to work there, and even though employees there themselves always said ādonāt aim to work hereā we still grew up watching their videos, drawing fan art, writing fanfics & idolising these people, wishing that we knew them.
Since the whole ry*n and ad*m thing, fans have been burned before, learning in one of the worst ways possible that putting these people up on a pedestal like that can go right to their heads and make them feel like they can get away with anything. How some will take advantage of their fans, the people who trusted them.
The media company that I grew up watching, their videos I watched religiously from 2012 through to 2015, it was all sunshine and rainbows, but only on the surface. If only Iād have known what was really going on this whole time. Iāve not followed RT or AH for a long time, and when I have been keeping up with some stuff, itās been on Twitter when a new controversy arises. Which is a total shame.
Iām just glad that Ray got out of there and found his true calling in life. Heās done so well for himself after he left, married the love of his life, has 2 dogs, a home, and a career that he now has control over, getting to do what he wants and no longer feeling burnt out like he was. That fans (for the most part) respected his choice, even if they didnāt like it, realising that actually he was better off in the end.
Iām so happy that Mica has since moved on to bigger and better things, found her people over at Critical Roll, who all welcomed her with open arms, and has been on freaking Star Trek alongside her dad! Love all of that for her, and she seems genuinely happy now!
Iām glad that Kdin told her story, has forgiven people whoāve come forward and apologised for their actions and past behaviours, let everyone know who her real friends are, and called out the people who did wrong or turned a blind eye to the shit that went on and did nothing to help her.
I was happy to see people actively riot when Matt announced his job had been dissolved. When he & Jeremy first joined AH, I saw a lot of negativity towards them, generally āchange badā and ānew people not funnyā but they were once fans like us, who we thought were lucky to work there. Now though, theyāve seen the other side and have still stayed humble. They seem like good, genuine, down to earth people who are still so invested in the RT community. Showing their support for Kdin, Ray, Mica and everyone else who was hurt by all of this. I hope they all stream together someday!
Iām glad that Michael delivered what I thought was the most genuine apology out of everybody and that Kdin has forgiven him. He has since shown growth, not just in his words but with his actions. Heās not the same person he was when he started at AH. Heās stepped up and taken responsibility. Not everyone forgives him, not everyone sees it that way, but Iām glad Kdin does.
One of the best things that RT ever did, was hire Monty Oum. If thereās one thing that man did for me while he was there, was that he taught me to never give up. To strive for the life that I deserve, and not settle for anything less, and to be creative. Even if it means Iām not good at something first, even if it takes a lifetime. To be thankful for life in general, because you never truly know how long you have.
The only thing that really stops us is time.
I never wanted to work at RoosterTeeth, I just wanted that creative and encouraging workplace that felt like a family, where my voice was not only heard but also listened to. Where I felt valued and respected. Now Iāve found that, and I get to live that dream. After years of feeling like a failure and not having any direction or purpose, and I never take that for granted. āNot everyone gets to do what they love as their job, and thereās never a day where I forget that.ā I now feel the love that Iāve craved so much and for so long. I donāt want to not exist anymore, I want to live my life knowing that Monty would be proud of me, to be proud of myself, and to do enough living for both of us.
It just saddens me that this wasnāt the true reality for some working at RoosterTeeth. The things it did give me, that I will always cherish and take away from it- good memories, ideas, inspiration, laughs, moments that got me through some of the darkest times of my life, and hope for the future. Belief in myself that I could do anything I set my mind to, and to aim beyond the stars. Let my imagination run wild and it would get me there in the end. Itās never too late, Iām not too old, I am good enough, and Iām not alone.
āYouāre never fighting alone, get up, get going, Iāll meet you there.ā AND,
blakekathryn
prguitarman
jacobvanloon
annaxmalina
germansingergirl
theartofmadeline
