Crunchyroll, one of the biggest names in anime streaming, is facing new allegations over its workplace culture, with a former employee claiming he got fired after bringing up hostility at the workplace.
Shawn Hoffman, a former Senior Software Engineer at Crunchyroll, alleged that he was retaliated against and eventually terminated after requesting an ADA accommodation for his anxiety and major depressive disorder diagnosis. He shared that this came at a time when his mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, making the whole situation significantly more difficult.
He wrote that he faced hostility soon after the request, including an incident where a manager he didn’t report to cursed at him and made an obscene gesture. His post includes a screenshot of the event, which shows the manager making the gesture, along with the manager’s name.
Hoffman further claims that after documenting the incident and reporting it to HR, he noticed a shift in how the company treated him. He also writes that Crunchyroll cited a ‘policy violation’ as the reason for his termination, while the manager remains employed. He also alleges that they offered severance in exchange for his silence.
Hoffman joined Crunchyroll at the beginning of 2024. In a post 2 months after joining, he highlighted the following contributions to the company during that time:
- Developing a high-quality video encoding and packaging pipeline to enhance the streaming experience for users.
- Shutting down illegal streaming and piracy apps, protecting the hard work of content creators.
- Assisting with hiring decisions as part of the interview panel to bring in new talent.
- Resolving a major production incident, ensuring minimal disruption for customers.
- Helping secure a strategic partnership in Asia, expanding the company’s reach.
- Building a new Content Delivery Network, improving customer satisfaction and reducing latency.
- Planning for Demon Slayer Season 4’s streaming capacity, ensuring a smooth experience for fans.
Hoffman’s allegations come at a time when Crunchyroll is already struggling with internal turbulence. According to a recent Bloomberg report, Crunchyroll has undergone at least three rounds of layoffs since Sony acquired it in 2021. The transition was reportedly rocky, with many Crunchyroll executives replaced by Funimation counterparts and external hires. Employees have described the new leadership as being out of touch with both staff and the anime community.
Additionally, via the same Bloomberg report, Crunchyroll is unlikely to meet its ambitious “25 by 25” goal of reaching 25 million subscribers by the end of 2025. Insiders cited fierce competition from Netflix, Disney, and Amazon, as well as difficulties in expanding to new markets. The company’s push into gaming and merchandising has also encountered setbacks, with layoffs reported in both sectors last summer.
The Bloomberg report also highlighted misconduct allegations against Markus Gerdemann, a senior vice president accused of fostering a “boys’ club” atmosphere, lowering team morale, and engaging in sexist behavior. An internal investigation reportedly found no wrongdoing after two misconduct reports were filed against him.
Sony acquired Crunchyroll in 2021 and later merged it with Funimation. On January 7 this year, the company closed a 50 billion yen deal with KADOKAWA to become its largest shareholder at approximately 10%.
The company also recently announced a new Crunchyroll manga application.
Source: Shawn Hoffman on LinkedIn
The comments are temporarily unavailable for maintenance.