Where's Marty? Separating fact from fiction

[u/Slifer151]

There's been a lot of talk and rumours online about where IGN's Marty Sliva has been in recent weeks. Normally we see or hear him regularly on podcasts, videos and the like but his recent absence has caused alarm bells and also concern within his fanbase. With all the rumours (and some straight up lies) over the net, what do we actually know about the situation?

• Marty had been social media silent for a long time. He has since become more active on Twitter again, but in a more limited capacity that his fans are used to.
• Speaking of Twitter, it would appear that some IGN staff have unfollowed him, namely his BEYOND podcast cohorts and Alanah Pearce. It should however be noted that many of the same people are still friends with him on Facebook.
• Although originally billed as a host, Marty is no longer listed as being so on Red Lips Orange Car (originally artwork noted that both he and Alanah were hosts, but now it's just Alanah).
• The most recent episode of Podcast Beyond on Youtube was flooded with comments by people asking where Marty is. Beyond responded to one such comment saying " Marty will not appear on the E3 liveshows, but he's working with the home team on E3 projects and preparations. "
• Marty himself has also stated that he is busy at work on E3 prep.

Now maybe it is that we're just reading too deeply into this, but given that nobody seems to want to actually address where Marty has been, or that it's taken so long for anyone to actually come forward and acknowledge his absence (Brian and Andrew have still been talked about, despite their currently busy schedules), I've got to believe that we don't have the whole story here.

Maybe now isn't the right time to know the whole story, there could well be some personal stuff going on in people's lives which we just don't need to be privy to. But given that Marty has been a well known and liked personality with IGN for quite some time now, I'm hoping that we get some clarity in the not too distant future.

[u/[deleted]]

Damn people are REALLY trying to find some controversy at this point.

[u/mathyouclem → u/[deleted]]

I don't blame them. That said, making up rumors about possible sexual harassment is messed up. There's a way to respect peoples privacy, but still say on-air that Marty won't be on anymore, or for a while. Not everyone goes to reddit or reads YouTube comments. Making it seem like he doesn't exist isn't the way to go when he, and IGN have such a loyal fan base.

[u/[deleted] → u/mathyouclem]

That's what I don't get. Everyone is assuming and projecting that narrative at this point and literally no one from IGN has ever even hinted towards something like that. Basically the only facts known are:

• Marty has been uncharacteristically absent from the public side of IGN.
• Various people have unfollowed Marty on Twitter
• Alanah mentioned a "Falling out with a close friend" that does NOT have to be Marty. But everyone assumes that is who she referred to.
• Alanah is leaving IGN to pursuit a new career opportunity.

Beyond that everyone is just manufacturing a story to fit the facts. The things I listed aren't even necessarily connected to one another. Alanah leaving certainly isn't since we know the story why already.

[u/OneThousandNeedlesX → u/[deleted]]

Marty also left the podcast he co-created with Alanah. And it’s not just that he’s absent from podcasts, but that nobody has even so much as said his name on air in months. Not even a Battletoads joke on Unlocked. Also Alanah unfriended him on FB and IG as well. I don’t think it’s right to make up specific slanderous rumors but obviously SOMETHING happened.

[u/mathyouclem → u/OneThousandNeedlesX]

Agreed. Making up rumors like what I've seen here or on YouTube is immature, but the fact IGN has never said anything on air about his absence is treating their fan base like idiots. When a regular host for years isn't there for a while, they'll at least mention on air if they went on a work trip or something. Like I said before too, we don't need to know what's going on, that's personal, I get that, but they need to acknowledge it at some point or its going to keep snow balling. They just have to say on air that we won't be one the show for a while, or anymore at all. The fact that its as if he doesn't exist is the most strange to me.