D'OH!
The Simpsons announce series will no longer have ‘white actors voice non-white characters’ after years of controversy
THE Simpsons show creators have announced “white actors” will no longer voice “non-white characters” after years of casting controversy.
The change comes days after said she will on Central Park while for also voicing someone who is mixed-race.
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Show producers revealed in a statement on Friday: “Moving forward, will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters.”
The long-running series has been deemed “problematic” by many fans for hiring white actor, Hank Azaria - who long voiced Kwik-E-Mart owner, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.
Controversy surrounding the role even inspired the 2017 documentary, The Problem with Apu.
The film goes in depth with how the Indian character - who was created by white writers while being voiced by a white actor - creates “problematic stereotypes of Southeast-Asian communities.”
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However, earlier this year, Hank announced he quit the show after first being cast back in 1989.
“What they're going to do with the character is their call,” he said in January.
“It's up to them and they haven't sorted it out yet. All we've agreed on is I won't do the voice anymore.
“We all feel like it's the right thing and good about it,” the comedian added.
In addition to Apu, Hank also voiced several other characters of color.
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Carl Carlson, Dr. Nick Riviera and policeman Lou were all previously played by Hank.
Comedic actor Harry Shearer - who is Caucasian - has also been criticized for voicing Dr. Hibbert.
Though the questionable casting choices have been a topic of debate for years, producers have remained largely silent on the issue until today.
The news comes one day after several other animated shows let go of their main voiceover stars due to race.
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Good Place actress Kristen, 39, was recast for the role in her new show that just premiered on May 29.
The Frozen star will no longer play Molly Tillerman on the cartoon series, Central Park, after Apple admitted it was not the “right representation.”
Producers released a statement on social media vowing to now cast a “black or mixed race actress.”
“Kristen Bell is an extraordinarily talented actress who joined the cast of Central Park from nearly the first day of the show’s development,” they said.
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It continued: “But after reflection, Kristen, along with the entire creative team, recognizes that the casting of the character of Molly is an opportunity to get representation right – to cast a Black or mixed race actress and give Molly a voice that resonates with all of the nuance and experiences of the character as we’ve drawn her.”
The production team continued: “We profoundly regret that we might have contributed to anyone’s feeling of exclusion or erasure.
“Black people and people of color have worked and will continue to work on Central Park but we can do better.
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Later that day, Jenny, 38, issued an open letter stating that she will quit Big Mouth - the show where she voiced mixed-race character Missy Foreman-Greenwald.
Jenny explained in a detailed Instagram post that "Black characters on an animated show should be played by Black people."
The 38-year-old has voiced Missy since the cartoon debuted on Netflix in 2017.
Simpsons voiceover artist Hank Azaria ’sad’ by the idea that his Indian-American character Apu offended people
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