Family Guy's Mike Henry, a white voice actor who plays the Black character Cleveland Brown, has announced that he will be stepping down after 20 years in the role.
In an announcement on Twitter, he wrote that, while he loves the character and considers it an "honor" to have played the role, "persons of color should play characters of color."
See his announcement below. The show hasn't commented on Henry's departure or made any announcement about Cleveland's future.
This follows a announcement from Jenny Slate, who left her role as Missy on Big Mouth for similar reasons. Earlier this year, Hank Azaria confirmed that he would no longer be voicing Apu on The Simpsons following a backlash. The Simpsons also just announced the show would no longer use white actors to voice non-white characters.
In an announcement on Twitter, he wrote that, while he loves the character and considers it an "honor" to have played the role, "persons of color should play characters of color."
See his announcement below. The show hasn't commented on Henry's departure or made any announcement about Cleveland's future.
This follows a announcement from Jenny Slate, who left her role as Missy on Big Mouth for similar reasons. Earlier this year, Hank Azaria confirmed that he would no longer be voicing Apu on The Simpsons following a backlash. The Simpsons also just announced the show would no longer use white actors to voice non-white characters.