The Simpsons says it will stop using white actors to voice non-white characters - ABC News

The Simpsons is ending the use of white actors to voice non-white characters, producers of the animated comedy say.

Key points:

• Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer voice several non-white characters on the show
• Other white actors on other animated shows have already stepped down from voicing non-white characters
• Earlier this year Azaria said he would no longer voice Indian-American character Apu

"Moving forward, The Simpsons will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters," producers of the show said in a brief statement.

The statement did not elaborate, but the move follows years of public pressure about the 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 criticised as a negative portrayal of Indian-Americans.

He has also voiced the characters of black police officer Lou, black power plant employee Carl Carlson and the Mexican-American Bumblebee Man.

Hank Azaria has voiced Homer's friend and fellow power plant employee Carl Carlson on The Simpsons.(AP: Willy Sanjuan via Invision)

Harry Shearer has played doctor Julius Hibbert, who is also black.

The producers' statement did not say whether Apu or the other characters would remain on the series.

The show has aired on television for more than 30 years, making it the longest-running scripted show on US TV.

The program is syndicated in more than 100 countries.

The producers' announcement follows attempts to address institutional racism in the US entertainment industry in response to the Black Lives Matter protests that have swept the country.

Other white actors, including Mike Henry of animated series Family Guy, Jenny Slate of Big Mouth and Kristen Bell of Central Park, have also said they will no longer voice non-white characters.

"It's been an honour to play Cleveland on Family Guy for 20 years. I love this character, but persons of colour should play characters of colour. Therefore, I will be stepping down from the role," Henry wrote on Twitter.

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Reuters/ABC

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA2LTI3L3RoZS1zaW1wc29ucy10by1zdG9wLXVzaW5nLXdoaXRlLXZvaWNlcy1mb3ItY2hhcmFjdGVycy1vZi1jb2xvdXIvMTIzOTk3NjDSASdodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTIzOTk3NjA?oc=5

2020-06-27 02:03:49Z
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