Funimation Posts One Piece Episode 403 Early (Updated Again)

From the AnimeNews tip line, vigilant Tokyotosho readers have confirmed that Funimation has posted One Piece 403 ahead of its scheduled broadcast on Saturday.

The episode was meant to be simulcast at 9PM CST as a part of the online debut of the One Piece Japanese simulcast on its official webpage.

Update: Funimation has taken down all One Piece streaming episodes due to “technical issues” with no word on availability.

Update 2: Funimation has issued the typical bolierplate statement as follows:
“As anime fans know, FUNimation Entertainment and Toei Animation had planned for the first ever online simulcast of the series ‘One Piece’ tonight at 9:00 pm CDT., just one hour after its premiere on Japan’s Fuji Television. Unfortunately, in the last 24 hours we have determined that the FUNimation servers were compromised, even though we employ strict security standards. An unknown individual accessed and posted episode 403 online and as a direct result of this illegal act, all U.S. and Canadian fans will be deprived of access to this great anime series for the immediate future. We will make every effort to locate and prosecute the perpetrator(s)to the fullest extent of the law and will provide updates regarding this most serious matter.”

Update 3: One Piece has been pulled from Hulu and Joost, with Joost using a placeholder page, and Hulu removing all references to the show as the show was acquired from Toei. Hulu was originally going to offer subtitled episodes seven days after the aborted and now canceled Funimation simulcast.

Update 4: Funimation has replaced its previous “technical issues” statement with the following: “At this time there is no further information as to if, or when, the One Piece simulcast will start.”