Craig Burnatowski, the actor who voiced Resident Evil villain Albert Wesker in Resident Evil 4’s remake and then returned to the series in this year’s Resident Evil Requiem to play new villain Zeno, has been removed from an upcoming convention appearance after a woman who says she dated the actor for a year claimed he was “mentally, emotionally abusive and manipulative,” and that he physically harmed her.
Monica Denizen, a streamer and artist, posted the allegations on her social media accounts yesterday, July 8, claiming that the actor had physically harmed her twice during intimacy. She says one injury she sustained still hasn’t healed, prompting her to see a surgical specialist to ensure she doesn’t require further treatment.
“It’s been four months since I ended this relationship and I am going public with this,” Denizen wrote. “I do so knowing that I may receive backlash and threats, but I won’t keep silent and protect my abuser.”
In a second Instagram image posted today, Denizen thanks supporters and goes into more detail about the alleged abuse, so read at your own discretion.
Following the initial post, Fantasy & Magic Con, a Warsaw-based convention where Burnatowski was scheduled to appear this weekend for signings and Resident Evil panels, acknowledged the allegations, saying “it would be inappropriate to make any premature decisions before establishing the facts,” and that organizers would update attendees when they had more information. Now, today, the event has announced Burnatowski will not be a guest at the convention as originally planned.
Dear Attendees,
We would like to inform you that we have made the decision to cancel Craig Burnatowski’s appearance at this year’s Fantasy & Magic Con.
After reviewing the reports that have recently emerged in the public domain, we have concluded that this is the most appropriate course of action under the current circumstances. We are committed to ensuring that Fantasy & Magic Con remains an event where all attendees, guests, and partners can feel comfortable and safe.
All autograph and Photo Op tickets purchased for Craig Burnatowski will be refunded automatically. No further action is required on your part.
Additionally, the previously scheduled Resident Evil group photo op will now become a 4-person photo op. If you purchased a ticket for the group photo op, please contact us at [email protected].
We sincerely apologize for the situation and thank you for your understanding.
See you at Fantasy & Magic Con!
While Burnatowski is not publicly attached to the project, Wesker will likely play a role in the upcoming Resident Evil: Code Veronica remake coming out next year. We’ve reached out to Capcom and Burnatowski for comment on the situation and will update this story if we hear back.