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Harry Shearer criticizes decision to stop having white actors voice POC characters


Harry Shearer, the voice of Dr Hibbert, Mr Burns and Ned Flanders on The Simpsons, has spoken out about the show’s decision to stop white actors playing characters of color.

The long-running cartoon confirmed in June, under renewed pressure from the Black Lives Matter movement, that it would 'no longer have white actors voice non-white characters.'

The move followed years of public criticism about the Fox television show's 'stereotyped' Indian convenience store character Apu, who is voiced by Hank Azaria.

Now Harry Shearer, 76, who voices multiple characters on The Simpsons including African American doctor Juilius Hibbert, appeared to criticize the decision, telling Times Radio that actors should be able to play outside their own experience.

'I have a very simple belief about acting. The job of the actor is to play someone who they are not,' said Shearer, who has also appeared in multiple movies including Spinal Tap and The Truman Show.

'That's the gig, that's the job description.'

Full article: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8590717/The-Simpsons-actor-calls-shows-decision-stop-having-white-actors-play-POC-characters.html

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He’s exactly right.

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I'm glad to hear that Shearer has more common sense than the average Hollywood PC sheep.

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'I have a very simple belief about acting. The job of the actor is to play someone who they are not,' said Shearer


This is bullshit. They should have only people of color do voices of characters. Going further, I also insist that whores only be played by real whores, comatose patients played by real people in a coma, and I want Superman to actually fly damn it!!!!

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Start using real bullets, I want to see real blood. If the character dies the actor should too!

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There you go! Is that so hard???

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What about serial killers?
I bet that Hopkins guy never even tasted human meat. Fuck that travesty!

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Start using real bullets, I want to see real blood. If the character dies the actor should too!


Great, you happy now? I heard Alec Baldwin read these boards but this proves it.

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Agree with him 100%

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SARCASM ALERT

Yeah, since White People are better actors than other ethnics, we should continue to make derisive portrayals of those beneath out stature. White people should play should play all parts of ethnicity because we're better and we deserve it, gosh darn it !

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Harry's a goodun, to see him stick his neck out and defend the show means a lot to the fans. I was disappointed with how Hank Azaria didn't fight back or even stick up for the show, he just went along with it. The Simpsons is like a family member to these guys, the social media backlash will be harsh but this is your livelihood at stake here. The Simpsons is one of the most important TV shows ever.

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"..this is your livelihood at stake here."

Those voice actors are all famous millionaires. They have no problem 'living', even in the hood, if they so choose.

I never understood the term 'livelihood' anyway. It should mean a hood that's lively, but I guess skyscrapers don't scrape the sky, either.

I mean, I get your point, but you obviously don't quite realize just how wealthy these people are, they aren't losing anything even if they never do a second of more work again (in their current incarnation), or earn another cent.

Besides, unemployment benefits and retirement are also ways to 'live'..

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While I feel that you should use voice actors of the right ethnicity when it's possible, it is very nice to see that somebody has the guts to say what Harry Shearer just said.

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How about they base the decision on the actor who portrays the character best should do the role?

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