There is no lawsuit against Vivienne “VivziePop” Medrano or her studio SpindleHorse. What exists is an open unfair labor practice charge that The Animation Guild filed against SpindleHorse with the National Labor Relations Board on February 19, 2026, roughly five months after the studio voluntarily recognized the union. The charge, docketed as Case 31-CA-381625 in the NLRB’s Region 31 office in Los Angeles, alleges five separate violations of the National Labor Relations Act.1National Labor Relations Board. Case 31-CA-381625 – SpindleHorse
What the Charge Alleges
The Guild’s filing spans three sections of federal labor law and describes a bargaining relationship that deteriorated quickly after recognition. The specific allegations are:
- Under Section 8(a)(5), that SpindleHorse repudiated or modified its contractual obligations under Section 8(d) and made unilateral changes to working conditions without bargaining.
- Under Section 8(a)(5), that the studio refused to furnish information the union requested.
- Under Section 8(a)(3), that SpindleHorse changed terms and conditions of employment in ways that discriminated against workers for union activity.
- Under Section 8(a)(3), that the studio discharged, laid off, or refused to hire workers because of union involvement.
- Under Section 8(a)(1), that SpindleHorse made coercive statements — threats, promises of benefits, or similar interference with employees’ organizing rights.1National Labor Relations Board. Case 31-CA-381625 – SpindleHorse
Taken together, the 8(a)(5) allegations point to a claim that the studio either walked back commitments or refused to engage with the union’s information requests. The 8(a)(3) discharge allegation is the most serious of the group, since it asserts workers lost their jobs because of the organizing effort.
How the Union Relationship Reached This Point
On September 16, 2025, SpindleHorse voluntarily recognized The Animation Guild, Local 839 of IATSE, as the bargaining representative for a unit of 106 animation artists.2Variety. Netflix Animation, SpindleHorse, TED Unionize With Animation Guild Recognition was noteworthy because SpindleHorse had operated as an independent studio without a union contract, unlike most Los Angeles animation projects. Medrano herself is a TAG member.3Cartoon Brew. Netflix, TED, SpindleHorse – The Animation Guild At recognition, both sides were described as looking forward to negotiating a first collective bargaining agreement.4Animation World Network. 3 Different Animation Worker Groups Submit Union Recognition to TAG 839 There is no public record of a completed contract between SpindleHorse and TAG before the charge was filed.
Current Status of the Case
The case is open and in its early investigative stage. The NLRB docket shows only two entries: the initial filing on February 19, 2026, and the signed charge against the employer filed the next day. The agency’s General Counsel has not issued a complaint, no hearing has been scheduled, and no settlement has been reached.1National Labor Relations Board. Case 31-CA-381625 – SpindleHorse At this stage, the regional office is typically gathering evidence and deciding whether to issue a formal complaint, pursue a settlement, or dismiss the charge.
Neither SpindleHorse nor The Animation Guild has made detailed public statements about the substance of the dispute beyond the filing itself.
Earlier Pay Controversy
Some readers searching for a “Vivziepop lawsuit” may be thinking of a separate, non-legal controversy from January 2024. A screenshot from the studio’s Discord server, originally posted in September 2022 by production supervisor Adam Neylan, offered “$35 for a second of rough animation” for the Hazbin Hotel season finale. The tweet sharing it reached over seven million views, and critics called the rate “slave wages.”5Daily Dot. Making Hazbin Hotel Wasn’t Easy, Says Former Freelancers of SpindleHorse Toons Neylan confirmed the message was real but said it referred to voluntary clean-up work rather than mandatory production duties, and that workers who declined would be kept on other projects. Because Hazbin Hotel was animated “on twos,” each second of footage required 12 individual drawings.
A Daily Dot investigation the same month interviewed a dozen current and former workers. Some described the studio culture as positive and “sometimes idyllic,” while others called the operation disorganized, said deadlines were very tight, and described pay as “industry average.” Most sources asked to remain anonymous, citing fears of retaliation from Medrano or her online fanbase.5Daily Dot. Making Hazbin Hotel Wasn’t Easy, Says Former Freelancers of SpindleHorse Toons Neither the 2024 reporting nor the pay screenshot produced a lawsuit; the only formal legal action on the public record is the 2026 NLRB charge.