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White actors will no longer voice non-white characters on The Simpsons

White actors will no longer voice non-white characters on The Simpsons

Many white actors have also stepped away from non-white characters they've voiced on other shows
27 Jun, 2020

Animated TV comedy The Simpsons is ending the use of white actors to voice characters of color, producers said on Friday.

“Moving forward, The Simpsons will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters,” they said in a brief statement.

The statement did not elaborate but the move follows years of public pressure about the Fox television show’s Indian convenience store character Apu, who is voiced by Hank Azaria.

Azaria said earlier this year that he would no longer play the character, which has been criticized as a negative portrayal of Indian-Americans.

Azaria has also voiced the Simpsons characters of Black police officer Lou and the Mexican-American Bumblebee Man. Harry Shearer has played Dr. Hibbert, who is Black.

Friday’s statement did not say whether Apu or the other characters would remain on the series.

Bumbling Homer Simpson, housewife Marge, troublemaker Bart, prodigy Lisa and baby Maggie, have captured the changing face of America for more than 30 years in the longest-running scripted show on U.S. television.

The Simpsons is syndicated in more than 100 countries.

Friday’s announcement comes amidst a widespread reckoning for U.S. pop culture about racism following mass protests this month over the killings of Black Americans by police.

Other white actors, including Mike Henry of animated series Family Guy and Kristen Bell of Central Park, have also said they will no longer voice characters of color.

“It’s been an honor to play Cleveland on Family Guy for 20 years. I love this character, but persons of color should play characters of color. Therefore, I will be stepping down from the role,” Henry said on Twitter on Friday.

Comments

Barish Jun 27, 2020 07:16pm
It is about time to end this bigotry!
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aslam khan Jun 27, 2020 09:56pm
So which rabbit will they get to do voice over for Bugs Bunny?
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jaredlee007 Jun 27, 2020 11:46pm
Wow! It took them such a long time to realize that white actors should not be used to voice non-white characters on The Simpsons . And they are the self-proclaimed torch bearers of equality and justice. What a joke.
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SayNoToPlastics Jun 28, 2020 06:15am
Absurd! What next , white painters will not be allowed to use black paint? The focus is to make those who are still benefiting from slavery compensate those who suffered because of it. This may include European 'royals' and multinational companies old and new.
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Anonymouseee Jun 28, 2020 10:40am
The character of Apu, the Indian American was 100% correctly played in the series.
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AJ Jun 28, 2020 06:21pm
Political correctness has reached toxic levels.
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