Pokémon Card Collector Gary Haase Stirs Controversy After Comments About Artist Mitsuhiro Arita
by Austen Chen
Red and Charizard in Pokémon Masters (Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)
Somehow, Charizard gained a lot of publicity recently. Last month, the Pokemon became the brightest star in the Logan Paul-Floyd Mayweather fight, and now, it has involved into an internet drama.
It started with a 2020 podcast-style Youtube video, in which Gary Haase discussed his collection with The Iced Coffee Hour. Haase shares one of his most precious cards: the mint condition Charizard (BGS 10 ). In addition to the card’s pristine state, there’s even a signature of Mitsuhiro Arita on the case. In case you don’t know Arita, he is the creator of Charizard, as well as 600 other Pokemon.
However, when the subject shifts to the signature on the case, Haase doesn’t come across as very appreciative. “In a lot of cases, that’s a big deal,” the Pokemon card collector said. “But this card is such a big deal that this signature means nothing.”
The comment provoked controversy between the two parties. One accused him of being disrespectful towards the artist, who has nurtured the whole Pokemon franchise and subsequently makes Haase rich, and the other defends the collector, arguing that Haase simply points out the harsh reality of card collection.
Based on the reaction of the interview, most people seem to fall into the latter one. Considering the video’s “likes” greatly outnumber “dislikes,” Haase’s remarks didn’t draw as much ire as one would have expected. Even the most liked comment is stressing how admirable Haase appears, saying “Gary’s passion is infectious! Seems like such a genuine guy.”
Meanwhile, Haase’s comment doesn’t sit right with Youtuber FrostedCaribou.
This is the last straw
I've never seen someone be so blatantly disrespectful
This person has the nerve to call themselves "King Pokémon," and is continuously idolized by this community. pic.twitter.com/W6S54ynhFk
— Bou (@FrostedCaribou) July 4, 2021
“This is the last straw,” FrostedCaribou said of Hasse’s behavior in a short, yet powerful sentence. She describes Hasse as “blatantly disrespectful” and claims that he has no reason to be “continuously idolized by this community.”
So far, both Hasse and the Pokemon Company declined to comment.
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