Kayli Mills divulged the details of her recast as Keqing from Genshin Impact.
Genshin Impact’s Version 5.7 update brought fans major news about two new recasts, those being that of Paimon, the fairy companion of the Traveler, and Keqing, a 5-star character affiliated with the nation of Liyue.
Paimon was originally voiced by Corina Boettger, while Keqing was voiced by Kayli Mills. Both voice actors have been vocal about the collective work refusal affecting HoYoverse games, and were also involved in the backlash due to the controversial recast of Kinich back in March.
Both Mills and Boettger were open about their disgust and disdain over Jacob Takanashi’s choice of taking on the role of Kinich, which was originally performed by John Patneaude. However, their reactions netted negative sentiments from the Genshin Impact community. Other interactions with the Genshin Impact fanbase were also stained with hostility from both sides.
So when the recast of Paimon and Keqing were announced, fans began to speculate that their actions during this difficult time may have been a major factor in their being let go from the game. However, Mills came forward with a statement to clear the air.
“Recast as Keqing due to the production schedule”
In an official statement to her X (formerly Twitter) account, Mills revealed that her recast was due to conflicts in production schedule. She further stated that she knew that “people will speculate”, however it was the official and sole reason that HoYoverse and its English voice studio, SIDE Global, had given.
Mills also reiterated that she made it clear that she was willing and enthusiastic to return to her role if AI protections could be provided regardless of union status, however she alleged that such protections could not be secured for her and her castmates.
Mills credited Keqing as one of the “greatest journeys” of her life, and that she will always treasure and cherish the time she spent in the game. She also apologised to fans that she could not “complete the journey together”, but thanked her character for all the experiences she’s had.
On the other hand, Boettger is yet to make any official statements about their recast, but is actively reposting on BlueSky lobbying for AI protections in HoYoverse games. Previously, they had confirmed that they would be withholding services to Genshin Impact unless an interim agreement was signed.
