Nintendrew! 🕹️✨🎮

I think I'm going to have to make a video on Martinet's exit sooner than later. I'm trying to enjoy Mario Kart World, but I keep getting pulled out of it when I hear Mario/Luigi/Wario/Waluigi speak. New actor is genuinely doing a great job, but I can't stop thinking about what happened to Charles.

I realize this is probably a bizarre reaction and indicative of being chronically online. But in many ways, Martinet has been the heart of Mario to me since I've been able to form memories. I played Mario Teaches Typing growing up. His delivery is inextricably tied with the character in my mind.

Apparently my Best Buy is doing a midnight launch. 👀 Should I do a late night unboxing stream?

I'm at my local Best Buy an hour early for my preorder, and the line is wrapped around the building, I'm guessing at least 100 people. This is a big launch! Merry Chrysler, Nintendo fans. 🎁🎮😎

I have a really spicy rant I've been kicking around in my head for the better part of 2 years. I've wanted to talk about it, but it's highly speculative and might turn some of the more unhealthy hardcore Nintendo fans against me. I'm considering testing the waters on Bluesky. 😛 Do I dare?

...And if my suspicions are correct that Charles is queer and has been barred from sharing details about his partner (which I have evidence to support), it adds another layer to this already messy situation. He has brought so much joy to this world, and he deserves to live as his authentic self.

I have a really spicy rant I've been kicking around in my head for the better part of 2 years. I've wanted to talk about it, but it's highly speculative and might turn some of the more unhealthy hardcore Nintendo fans against me. I'm considering testing the waters on Bluesky. 😛 Do I dare?

One quick correction: Tara Strong's tweets were both on the same day as the release of the first Super Mario Bros Movie teaser trailer, not the initial casting announcement as I suggested earlier. My mistake!

I have a really spicy rant I've been kicking around in my head for the better part of 2 years. I've wanted to talk about it, but it's highly speculative and might turn some of the more unhealthy hardcore Nintendo fans against me. I'm considering testing the waters on Bluesky. 😛 Do I dare?

Anyway, I just think it's kinda shitty to demote one of your most loyal business partners of 33 yrs to a meaningless role (possibly unpaid, not clear) and act like you're doing him a favor by letting him continue to use your IP to sell autographs at conventions without getting sued. That's the rant.

I have a really spicy rant I've been kicking around in my head for the better part of 2 years. I've wanted to talk about it, but it's highly speculative and might turn some of the more unhealthy hardcore Nintendo fans against me. I'm considering testing the waters on Bluesky. 😛 Do I dare?

In the years following, Charles has clarified on multiple occasions that he's not retired as a voice actor, and he is thrilled whenever he has an opportunity to work. He has not once expressed a desire or intent to walk away from the characters he helped create throughout the 90s and beyond.

I have a really spicy rant I've been kicking around in my head for the better part of 2 years. I've wanted to talk about it, but it's highly speculative and might turn some of the more unhealthy hardcore Nintendo fans against me. I'm considering testing the waters on Bluesky. 😛 Do I dare?

At this same convention in September 2023, Charles says he has not yet seen the Super Mario Bros. Movie (5 months after theatrical release), which is rather interesting. He played two cameo roles in the film. Why wouldn't he have been invited to the premiere? Or if he was, why might he decline?

I have a really spicy rant I've been kicking around in my head for the better part of 2 years. I've wanted to talk about it, but it's highly speculative and might turn some of the more unhealthy hardcore Nintendo fans against me. I'm considering testing the waters on Bluesky. 😛 Do I dare?

10 months later, the Mario movie has been out for a while, and Nintendo announces (via tweet) that Charles is stepping away from his life's work to become a "Mario Ambassador". 2 weeks later, during a convention Q&A Charles says, "I don't know what that is yet". That decision was made for him.

I have a really spicy rant I've been kicking around in my head for the better part of 2 years. I've wanted to talk about it, but it's highly speculative and might turn some of the more unhealthy hardcore Nintendo fans against me. I'm considering testing the waters on Bluesky. 😛 Do I dare?

Sorry to link to the dead bird site, but for context: x.com/tarastrong/s...

I have a really spicy rant I've been kicking around in my head for the better part of 2 years. I've wanted to talk about it, but it's highly speculative and might turn some of the more unhealthy hardcore Nintendo fans against me. I'm considering testing the waters on Bluesky. 😛 Do I dare?

I have become convinced that Charles Martinet was let go from his voice roles (and assigned an ill-defined honorary role of "Mario Ambassador", an intentional PR decision) by Nintendo, likely as a result of some completely benign Twitter posts that Nintendo leadership may have been disgruntled by.

I have a really spicy rant I've been kicking around in my head for the better part of 2 years. I've wanted to talk about it, but it's highly speculative and might turn some of the more unhealthy hardcore Nintendo fans against me. I'm considering testing the waters on Bluesky. 😛 Do I dare?

Long story short, I think Nintendo did an arguably bad thing that fell under the radar, and they haven't really been called out much for it. I'm really not one for drama/tabloid-type content, but I do feel some responsibility to hold them accountable with my platform.