Animated Tv set comedy The Simpsons is ending the use of white actors to voice figures of color, producers said on Friday.
“Moving forward, The Simpsons will no for a longer time have white actors voice non-white characters,” they claimed in a brief statement.
The assertion did not elaborate, but the transfer follows decades of community pressure about the Fox television show’s Indian ease retailer character Apu, who is voiced by Hank Azaria.
Azaria stated previously this 12 months that he would no longer engage in the character, which has been criticized as a unfavorable portrayal of South Asian-People.
Azaria has also voiced the Simpsons characters of Black police officer Lou and the Mexican-American Bumblebee Male. Harry Shearer has performed Dr. Hibbert, who is Black.
Friday’s statement did not say whether Apu or the other characters would continue to be on the collection.
Bumbling Homer Simpson, housewife Marge, troublemaker Bart, prodigy Lisa and infant Maggie have captured the modifying face of The united states for extra than 30 many years in the longest-running scripted demonstrate on U.S. tv.
The Simpsons is syndicated in more than 100 nations around the world.
Friday’s announcement will come amid a prevalent reckoning for U.S. pop tradition about racism subsequent mass protests this thirty day period in excess of the killings of Black Us residents by law enforcement.
Other white actors, such as Mike Henry of animated collection Household Person and Kristen Bell of Central Park, have also mentioned they will no longer voice figures of color.
“It can be been an honour to enjoy Cleveland on Family members Guy for 20 several years. I enjoy this character, but people of color need to enjoy figures of color. As a result, I will be stepping down from the job,” Henry explained on Twitter on Friday.
It is been an honor to perform Cleveland on Relatives Man for 20 several years. I really like this character, but individuals of color must participate in characters of shade. Consequently, I will be stepping down from the part. pic.twitter.com/FmKasWITKT
&mdash@mikehenrybro
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