Anime News Network Won’t Hold James Beckett Accountable for His Unprofessional Behavior.

A year ago, I got into a Twitter argument with Anime News Network reviewer James Beckett over his Demon Slayer reviews. I felt his coverage was consistently negative, and when I disagreed, he dismissed me as a child—even after I told him I’m in my 30s. Instead of engaging in a respectful discussion, he belittled me.

Recently, I decided to reach out to ANN directly, expressing my concerns about Beckett’s reviews and, more importantly, his unprofessional behavior toward readers. Here’s their response:

“Hello Blank, Thank you for respectfully reaching out about your concerns and opinions regarding our review coverage of the Demon Slayer property. Unfortunately, we will have to accept a general disagreement on the quality and validity of the reviews regarding Demon Slayer. Three different staff members oversee Mr. Beckett’s reviews for editing prior to going to print. His concerns and criticisms would not be published if we felt that they were without evidence or merit. That being said, we never aim to assign a reviewer to a series they actively dislike. If Mr. Beckett does not want to return for Infinity Castle, we will find a new reviewer for the series.Regarding your interaction with him via Twitter a year ago, we do not monitor our staff or contractors’ personal social media accounts outside of very specific incidents. Sincerely, Blank.”

They completely sidestepped the issue of Beckett’s behavior and refused to hold him accountable. Their excuse? They don’t monitor staff’s personal social media. But when a reviewer publicly represents ANN and engages with readers in a dismissive, condescending way, it reflects on the site’s professionalism.

I wasn’t expecting them to fire him, but at the very least, I wanted them to acknowledge that this kind of behavior is unacceptable. Instead, they brushed it off entirely. If ANN won’t hold their staff accountable for how they treat readers, what does that say about their standards?

I’m frustrated and disappointed. Has anyone else had similar experiences with ANN or their reviewers?