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    'The Simpsons' Called Racist by Morrissey Over 'Hurtful' Portrayal in New Episode

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    FOX/WENN

    The former frontman of The Smiths fires back at the animated television show after he became the subject of parody in latest episode ‘Panic on the Streets of Springfield.’

    Apr 20, 2021

    AceShowbiz –
    Singer Morrissey was less than impressed with the latest episode of “The Simpsons”, which animated his former band The Smiths.

    “Panic on the Streets of Springfield”, which aired on Sunday (19Apr21), featured character Lisa Simpson making an imaginary friend – a depressed indie singer from 1980s Britain.

    And while Morrissey wasn’t involved in the show – with actor Benedict Cumberbatch tapped to voice him, alongside a series of 80s-inspired songs, written by Flight of the Conchords star Bret McKenzie – the rocker took to social media to release a lengthy statement, attacking writers behind the episode for portraying him as a racist.

    Insisting “The Simpsons” had taken a “turn for the worst” in recent years, he wrote, “Sadly, The Simpson’s (sic) show started out creating great insight into the modern cultural experience, but has since degenerated to trying to capitalise on cheap controversy and expounding on vicious rumors.”

    “Poking fun at subjects is one thing. Other shows like SNL (Saturday Night Live) still do a great job at finding ways to inspire great satire. But when a show stoops so low to use harshly hateful tactics like showing the Morrissey character with his belly hanging out of his shirt (when he has never looked like that at any point in his career) makes you wonder who the real hurtful, racist group is here.”

    He added, “Even worse – calling the Morrissey character out for being a racist, without pointing out any specific instances, offers nothing. It only serves to insult the artist.”

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    Morrissey, who was notably criticised for wearing a badge featuring the logo of far-right anti-Islam political party For Britain during a U.S. TV appearance, went on to reference Hank Azaria’s recent apology for playing Indian shopkeeper Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.

    “Simpson’s actor Hank Azaria’s recent apology to the whole country of India for his role in upholding ‘structural racism’ says it all,” the “How Soon Is Now?” hitmaker added.

    “Unlike the character in the Simpson’s ‘Panic’ episode… Morrissey has never made a ‘cash grab,’ hasn’t sued any people for their attacks, has never stopped performing great shows, and is still a serious vegan and strong supporter for animal rights.”

    “By suggesting all of the above in this episode… the Simpson’s hypocritical approach to their storyline says it all. Truly they are the only ones who have stopped creating, and have instead turned unapologetically hurtful and racist.”

    The statement concluded, “Not surprising… that The Simpsons viewership ratings have gone down so badly over recent years. (sic)”

    Show bosses have yet to respond to the star’s criticism.

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      'The Simpsons' Recasts Dr. Hibbert's Voice Actor Harry Shearer After Vowing to Properly Cast Actors

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      Dr. Hibbert, one of black characters on the long-running animated show, will now be voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson, who has appeared as other characters in more than 70 episodes of the series.

      Feb 24, 2021
      AceShowbiz – “The Simpsons” has made another concrete move after it vowed to stop using white actors to voice non-white characters. On Tuesday, February 23, the long-running FOX series announced that it replaced Harry Shearer, the original voice actor for Dr. Julius Hibbert.
      PEOPLE reported that Dr. Hibbert, one of black characters on the animated show, will now be voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson. Shearer has played Hibbert as well as several other characters on the show for more than 30 years. Shearer-voiced Hibbert will be featured for the final time in the Sunday episode titled “Dairy Queen”.
      While Shearer will no longer voice Dr. Hibbert, he will continue provide voice for other “The Simpsons” characters including Mr. Burns, Principal Skinner, Waylon Smithers and Ned Flanders. As for Richardson, it is said that he will start taking over the character for the first time in upcoming episode titled “Wad Goals”. Prior to this, Richardson appeared as other characters in more than 70 episodes of the series.

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      FOX announced back in June 2020 that the show would stop using white actors to voice non-white characters. “Moving forward, ‘The Simpsons’ will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters,” affirmed the producers in the statement.
      Of the decision, Shearer previously voiced his disagreement. “I have a very simple belief about acting. The job of the actor is to play someone who they are not,” the 77-year-old shared during his appearance on “Times Radio” at the time. “That’s the gig, that’s the job description.”
      FOX’s announcement arrived in the wake of criticism by stand-up comedian Hari Kondabolu towards the show for having Hank Azaria, a white voice actor, to take on the role of Indian shop clerk Apu Nahasapeemapetilon through a 2018 documentary titled “The Problem with Apu”. Kondabulu said that the character is based on hurtful stereotypes. “Everything with Apu is like this running joke,” he told the New York Times. “And the running joke is that he’s Indian.”
      Azaria eventually stepped away from his role as Apu following the backlash and exited the show altogether. He also revealed that he wouldn’t “be doing the voice anymore, unless there’s some way to transition it or something. We all made the decision together… We all agreed on it. We all feel like it’s the right thing and good about it.” Additionally, “The Simpsons” replaced Azaria with Alex Desert to voice Carlton Carlson on the show.

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      Alex Desert Joins 'The Simpsons' to Replace Hank Azaria

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      The ‘Better Things’ actor has been recruited to provide voice for Homer Simpson’s colleague Carlton Carlson originally voiced by Hank Azaria before he left the show.
      Sep 27, 2020
      AceShowbiz – Alex Desert has stepped in to voice Homer Simpson’s colleague Carlton Carlson on “The Simpsons”, following bosses’ decision not to have white actors voicing non-white characters on the show.
      The “Better Things” star will be replacing Hank Azaria in the role although it’s unclear whether or not he will be a permanent replacement for Azaria – who had voiced Carl since the beginning of the show apart from his very first appearance.
      The move comes after producers pushed for more diversity on the programme by announcing that they will no longer enlist white actors to voice non-white characters.

        See also…

      It also comes after Azaria stepped away from his role as Apu Nahasapeemapetilon on the show in January (20), following backlash surrounding his “stereotypical” voicing of the Indian character.
      Desert’s debut on the programme can be heard on the season premiere of “The Simpsons” this Sunday (27Sep20).
      Hank Azaria, a white voice actor, was harshly criticized by comedian Hari Kondabolu before he gave up his role as Indian shop clerk Apu. “Everything with Apu is like this running joke,” Kondabolu told the New York Times. “And the running joke is that he’s Indian.”
      As Azaria later left the show, he said he wouldn’t “be doing the voice anymore, unless there’s some way to transition it or something. We all made the decision together… We all agreed on it. We all feel like it’s the right thing and good about it.”

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      'The Simpsons' Announces It Will Stop Using White Actors to Voice Non-White Characters

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      FOX

      Meanwhile, ‘Family Guy’ voice actor Mike Henry also reveals on his social media account that he will no longer voice Cleveland Brown on the FOX animated series.
      Jun 27, 2020
      AceShowbiz – “The Simpsons” is making a change. In a statement on Friday, June 26, the long-running animated TV show announced that the show will stop using white actors to voice non-white characters.
      “Moving forward, ‘The Simpsons’ will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters,” affirmed the producers in the statement. The producers don’t elaborate more of the new decision.
      This arrives after stand-up comedian Hari Kondabolu criticized the show for having Hank Azaria, a white voice actor, to take on the role of Indian shop clerk Apu Nahasapeemapetilon through a 2018 documentary titled “The Problem with Apu”. Kondabulu said that the character is based on hurtful stereotypes. “Everything with Apu is like this running joke,” he told the New York Times. “And the running joke is that he’s Indian.”
      Later in January, Azaria announced that he stepped down from his role on the hit show. While saying that he would continue to appear in various other roles, Hank noted that he “won’t be doing the voice anymore, unless there’s some way to transition it or something. We all made the decision together… We all agreed on it. We all feel like it’s the right thing and good about it.”
      Meanwhile, around the same time “The Simpsons” made public their decision, “Family Guy” voice actor Mike Henry also revealed on Friday that he would no longer voice Cleveland Brown on the FOX animated series. “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, who voiced the black character since 1999, wrote on his Instagram account.

      Supporting his decision, one Instagram user said, “This is progress. If white people want to be allys then they shouldn’t be taking up black spaces, that in itself would be white supremacy!” However, some others thought that he took too long to step down from his role. “After 20 years… and u just now wanna take a stand? And why tf they got a white person behind this role… all the subliminal race jokes… I just feel we’ve been made a mockery,” one user wrote.

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      Lili Reinhart and 'Riverdale' Co-Stars to Voice Mean Girls on 'The Simpsons'

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      WENN

      Reinhart is joined by ‘Riverdale’ castmates Camila Mendes and Madelaine Petsch to lend their voice to ‘snooty rich girls’ in an upcoming episode of the animated comedy series.
      May 7, 2020
      AceShowbiz – “Riverdale” stars Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, and Madelaine Petsch are set to voice characters on “The Simpsons”.
      The three actresses will lend their voices to roles on the latest episode of the animated comedy, titled “The Hateful Eight-Year Olds”. The storyline follows The Simpsons’ character Lisa Simpson as she makes a new friend, named Abby – voiced by Joey King. The “Riverdale” stars play “snooty rich girls.”
      Reinhart and Mendes shared the news with fans on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, taking to social media to post an image of their characters.
      “It is truly an incredible, surreal blessing that I was able partake in one of the most iconic television shows ever made,” Reinhart wrote on Instagram. “If you’re interested in hearing me voice a bitchy eight year old, watch @thesimpsons May 10th at 8pm on FOX.”

      “Never in my life did i think i’d get to voice a character on the simpsons but here we are!” Mendes added. “it’s me, @lilireinhart and @madelame playing mean and annoying 8 yr old girls.”

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