General Thread v5 Guys: MariMari_EN Edition

Personal Statement by "AstraNyx" — Former Talent at Luminara Studios​

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To my fans, fellow talents, and the VTuber community:​

This has taken me months to write, and even longer to work up the courage to share. But I believe in truth, and I believe in protecting others — even if it comes at the cost of my own silence. I’m writing this to speak openly about my experience at Luminara Studios, and the actions of its founder and CEO.

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What Happened​

When I joined Luminara, it felt like a dream come true. I was promised creative freedom, support, and a future doing what I love. But behind the scenes, things were not what they seemed.
It started with messages that felt… off. Compliments that got personal. Late-night DMs from the CEO, commenting on my voice, my looks — not my content. At first, I brushed it off. I told myself, “It’s awkward, but maybe he’s just trying to be nice.”
But it escalated.
He made it clear that certain “opportunities” were only offered to those who played along. I was invited to private calls under the pretense of “career coaching,” but the conversations quickly veered into territory that made me uncomfortable. He’d say things like:

“You’re talented, but if you really want to make it, you should learn to be more... flexible with management.”

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When I pushed back, when I stopped responding to his messages, I saw the consequences. I was passed over for sponsorships I was told were mine. My promotional support dried up. My merch launch was mysteriously “delayed” three times — while others who were close to him moved ahead.

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I Wasn't Alone​

It wasn’t just me.
I started hearing from other Luminara talents who’d had similar experiences. Some worse. Some who left quietly because they couldn’t take it anymore. One of them told me she had panic attacks every time she logged into Discord, because she didn’t know when he’d message her again.
Another said she was asked to fly out to Tokyo for a “studio shoot,” only to find out it was just her and him — no cameras, no staff, no shoot.
We weren’t colleagues anymore. We were trauma-bonded survivors in silence.

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Why I Stayed Quiet​

People will ask: Why didn’t you say something sooner?
Because I was scared.
Because I signed NDAs.
Because I loved my fans and didn’t want to let them down.
Because I thought if I just kept my head down, I could ride it out.
And because when you're in a position where your livelihood depends on someone who has power over you — saying "no" isn't as easy as people think.

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Why I'm Speaking Out Now​

Because it's not just about me anymore.
There are younger talents joining every month. Talents who don’t know the signs. Who might fall into the same patterns we did, thinking it’s normal. It’s not.
I’m speaking out to say clearly: What happened to me was abuse of power. It was manipulative. It was predatory.
And no one — no creator, no dreamer, no young woman trying to find her voice — should ever have to endure it.

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To Luminara Studios​

You can’t fix this with PR.
You can’t silence all of us.
You owe your talents — past and present — a real investigation, real accountability, and real change.
Until then, your promises mean nothing.

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To My Fans​

I don’t know what’s next for me, but I want you to know I’m still here. I may have been silenced before, but my voice is mine again.
Thank you for believing in me — not just the character I played, but the person I am.
Love,
AstraNyx
(Former Luminara Talent)