VShojo, a U.S.-based talent agency known for promoting VTubers, is facing a turbulent period. On July 22, reports surfaced that most of the agency’s streamers had chosen to cut ties with the company and pursue careers as independent content creators. The mass departure was sparked by a controversy involving broken financial agreements with Ironmouse — the agency’s star talent and one of the most popular female streamers globally.
Several months ago, MataraKan quietly parted ways with VShojo, followed by GEEGA and Zentreya at the start of the summer. While none of the streamers disclosed the reasons behind their departures, they expressed gratitude for their time with the agency and assured fans they would continue streaming as independent VTubers. At the time, VShojo fans didn’t suspect any underlying problems, but that all changed after Ironmouse stepped forward.
On July 22, Ironmouse released a video on her YouTube channel where she unexpectedly announced her departure from VShojo. In the video, she accused the agency of failing to honor a major financial commitment. Following her record-breaking subathon, she had asked VShojo to donate a portion of the proceeds — approximately $500,000 — to the Immune Deficiency Foundation. Although the agency initially agreed, the funds were never transferred, even a year later. Ironmouse called the situation unacceptable and said it ultimately led to her decision to leave the agency.
Not long after Ironmouse’s exit, more VShojo VTubers began to follow suit — ProjektMelody, Hajime, Michi, Kuro, and ksonsouchou also parted ways with the agency. Several other streamers have removed VShojo branding from their social media accounts, though they haven’t formally announced their departures yet. Many are expected to address the situation during their upcoming livestreams.
As more streamers parted ways with VShojo, posts from other VTubers began circulating online, alleging deeper issues within the company. Allegations ranged from staff layoffs and financial instability to even doxxing. The situation quickly caught the attention of the wider streaming community and became a hot topic on various broadcasts. Notably, Twitch star Zack ‘’Zackrawrr’’ Hoyt, one of the platform’s most popular streamers, actively covered the controversy on his streams.
VShojo was the leading American VTuber agency focused on English-speaking audiences. By total Hours Watched, it consistently ranked among the top ten VTubing agencies worldwide, behind only those whose rosters were primarily made up of Japanese or Korean talent.
