Sweet Baby Inc., a narrative consultancy company in the video game industry, has recently found itself embroiled in controversy due to the actions of its employees. Let’s delve into five instances where Sweet Baby Inc. staff made decisions that sparked criticism and concern.
- Exploiting Tragedy: Akira Toriyama’s Passing and Chris Kindred’s Response
Following the tragic passing of Akira Toriyama, the renowned creator of Dragon Ball, Sweet Baby Inc. writer Chris Kindred made a questionable move. Instead of offering condolences or respecting the legacy of the legendary mangaka, Kindred chose to use Toriyama’s death to raise a discussion about a character from the Dragon Ball series: Mr. Popo.
Mr. Popo, a character introduced in the Dragon Ball manga, has been the subject of debate due to his design, which some critics argue resembles racist caricatures. However, Kindred’s attempt to spark a conversation about race and representation in anime amidst a time of mourning for Toriyama was met with criticism. Many found it insensitive and disrespectful to exploit a tragedy to push a personal agenda.
- Encouraging False Reports: Chris Kindred’s Call to Action
In another misstep, Chris Kindred urged his followers to file false reports against a Steam Curator List that tracked the games Sweet Baby Inc. had worked on. The list, created to keep track of the company’s publicly credited works, became a target of Kindred’s efforts to silence criticism.
By encouraging his supporters to engage in dishonest behavior, Kindred only escalated the situation and further alienated critics. This call to action raised questions about Sweet Baby Inc.’s commitment to transparency and accountability in addressing criticism.
- Government Involvement and Misrepresentation: Take This Enters the Fray
Take This, a mental health organization focused on the video game industry, waded into the controversy surrounding Sweet Baby Inc. However, their intervention only added to the confusion. Take This, funded in part by the US government, drew parallels between the criticism of Sweet Baby Inc. and a previous controversy known as Gamergate.
Comparing the two situations muddied the waters and made it challenging to understand the true nature of the criticism directed at Sweet Baby Inc. By misrepresenting the issues at hand, Take This failed to provide meaningful insights or solutions to address the concerns raised by gamers.
- Defending Sweet Baby: Take This’ Blog Post
Take This published a blog post in defense of Sweet Baby Inc., but their efforts fell short of addressing the underlying issues. Instead of engaging with the valid criticisms leveled against the company, Take This dismissed them as mere insults and harassment.
Their failure to acknowledge the legitimate concerns raised by critics only served to further alienate dissenting voices. By defending Sweet Baby Inc. without critically examining the allegations against the company, Take This missed an opportunity to foster constructive dialogue and promote accountability within the industry.
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- Cultural Insensitivity: Lack of Understanding and Research
Despite Sweet Baby Inc.’s stated commitment to “diversity and inclusion”, the company has demonstrated a lack of understanding of different cultures. In labeling a character like Mr. Popo from Dragon Ball as racist without considering its cultural context, Sweet Baby Inc. employees displayed a failure to conduct thorough research and engage respectfully with foreign creatives.
By overlooking cultural and historical context, Sweet Baby Inc. perpetuated stereotypes and contributed to harming Toriyama’s legacy. Their actions highlight the importance of staying in your lane and the need for more in-depth vetting of employees within the industry.
Sweet Baby Inc. has faced justified backlash due to the actions of its employees. From exploiting tragedies to dismissing criticism and demonstrating knee-jerk racism, the company must address these issues head-on. Rebuilding trust and fostering an accountable environment will require genuine efforts to listen to feedback, learn from their massive mistakes, and demonstrate a commitment to ethical, non-biased conduct in Sweet Baby Inc.’s future works.
As always let us know your thoughts down below! Do you think Sweet Baby Inc. will be able to salvage its reputation?
NEXT: (Sweet Baby Inc. FILES) The Sweet Baby Inc Files, Part I: Kim Belair, CEO
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