Ascendent Animation Addresses Kiba Walker Allegations
Ascendent Animation issued a statement on Monday regarding voice actor Kiba Walker, who is also known as “Salem Moon” in drag and LGBTQ+ communities, after allegations surfaced on July 30. These allegations claim that Walker sent sexually suggestive messages to minors. The company stated it “has had no affiliation with [Walker], personally or professionally, since January 2022.”
Walker’s Role Clarified
Ascendent Animation clarified that Walker was neither the President nor the founder, and that his partner Cole Feuchter did not serve as Vice President. Walker had been contracted solely as a voice actor and director, assisting with adaptation for early series. The company remarked, “We would have never collaborated with Kiba had we known of such behavior. His unauthorized statements on behalf of the company contributed to his dismissal.”
Contract Termination and Conduct Issues
The statement elaborated that Walker’s contract was terminated in late 2021 due to multiple instances of unprofessional conduct and unauthorized use of the company’s name. “We purposely distanced ourselves from Walker. His dismissal resulted from behaviors we could no longer accept, including inappropriate actions,” the company noted.
Discrepancies in Walker’s Claims
Prior press releases had inaccurately referred to Walker as the President and COO. Ascendent Animation clarified that Walker had been unauthorized to issue press releases, and any before 2022 contained incorrect information. The company sends official communications through its marketing representative, while WWWave Corporation manages press releases related to dubbing licenses. They later took control of the “@AscendedAnime” X/Twitter account, which Walker had established to promote his own claims.
Clarifying Company Leadership
The company stated that Walker’s claims of being President and founder were solely his own assertions on social media. Notably, an early tweet misspelled the company’s name as ‘Ascendant’ instead of the accurate ‘Ascendent.’ The actual founders are K. Cornell Kellum and Steve Warky Nunez, with Nunez consistently holding the role of President and CEO.
Company’s Apology and Regrets
Ascendent Animation expressed regret for past misinformation regarding Walker’s role in the company, attributing the lack of public clarification to employee fear of retaliation. The company extended an apology to those misled by the inaccuracies. Additionally, Anime News Network has recognized and apologized for previous errors in attributing Walker with titles such as President, COO, or founder.
Background on Allegations Against Kiba Walker
On July 30, voice actor Korey Solomon alleged that Walker sent him sexually suggestive messages when Solomon was 15 and Walker was 22, accusing him of grooming since 2017. Solomon stated that he ceased all contact with Walker in 2023. This was followed by similar allegations from voice actor James Molloy, who claimed he was groomed and received inappropriate messages from Walker at 17. Both claims are backed by message screenshots with timestamps.
LGBTQ+ organization Pride in Dallas and the 1851 Club in Arlington, Texas also announced their separation from Walker following the allegations. Moreover, game developer BLits Games disclosed they have severed all ties, including recasting Walker’s role in their game Scoutmaster Season. Walker is recognized for his roles in various English anime dubs.
Sources: Ascendent Animation‘s X/Twitter account, email correspondence
