Voice actors dropping their roles for skin color

James Earl Jones, a black man, voices Darth Vader, a white man.

James Avery, a black man, voices the Shredder, a Japanese man.

Terrence C. Carson and Christopher Judge, both black men, voice Kratos, a Greek/Mediterranean man.

But it’s only “wrong” if white people voice characters not their skin color or ethnicity?

The voice actors who are making a spectacle of themselves by publicly announcing their stepping down from roles because of their opposite skin colors are nothing but shameless attention whores.

It’s my firm belief that skin color matters NOT in voice acting.

Thoughts and opinions?

I think it's silly overall, you're an actor and it's just a voice. No reason a White actor can't voice a Black character and vice-versa. If the voice fits a character, it fits.

I do understand where some voice actors are dropping roles where they were doing voices that were racially insensitive to some people.

Cleveland from family guy is a black male cartoon voiced by a white guy...

I have many Indian friends who laugh at the notion of Apu from the Simpsons being insensitive.

Yeah, I liked Apu.

Originally posted by Impediment
I have many Indian friends who laugh at the notion of Apu from the Simpsons being insensitive.

I'm sure many do at the stereotype, but some didn't. Though I do think it was largely Azaria's choice.

Originally posted by Impediment
James Earl Jones, a black man, voices Darth Vader, a white man.

James Avery, a black man, voices the Shredder, a Japanese man.

Terrence C. Carson and Christopher Judge, both black men, voice Kratos, a Greek/Mediterranean man.

But it’s only “wrong” if white people voice characters not their skin color or ethnicity?

The voice actors who are making a spectacle of themselves by publicly announcing their stepping down from roles because of their opposite skin colors are nothing but shameless attention whores.

It’s my firm belief that skin color matters NOT in voice acting.

Thoughts and opinions?

Where's the rub?

What's in it for them, to quit a paying gig? Must be something in it, or they're just shooting themselves in the foot. Good will doesn't pay the bills.

I think it was mostly due to him being an Indian man who owned a corner shop and had a big family. Classic stereotypes. Throw in the silly voice and I think you all get the point. Now, I'm no stranger to corner shops owned by south asian people, where I'm from, most are actually owned by bangladeshi people. They're also very nice and friendly and white english people work there too. Back to Apu. He was a great character and I think his removal was nothing more than a political statement, if anything.

Someone like Azaria can afford it now, he's also doing other voices in the Simpson at 300K an episode.

Boh.

Homer doesn't say bo, he says......... D'oh!

Will be interesting seeing how the argument holds up to fluid identity politics.

Unless they choose to ignore that elephant in the room.

I think it's fine if people step away because they are uncomfortable. I wouldn't consider that "stupid."

Is it necessary? It's not a blanket yes or no. It would probably be weird if James Avery was doing an asian accent - I'd probably be like "maybe cast someone else." But maybe not even then. Like I love Phil Lamarr's Samurai Jack so, eh toss up.

James Earl Jones sounds like a weird one because that dude probably wasn't originally an old white guy, and also he's wearing like, a ****ing robot suit. That was just what the voicebox shit sounded like, right? I mean Hayden sounded exactly the same when it got strapped on.

And yeah I'm sure there are some Indian people who aren't offended by Apu, but there are plenty who are. I'm not gonna toss my two cents into that argument because I don't have a dog in this fight. Especially because The Simpsons isn't as good as FUTURAMA

I have an Indian friend who was pretty offended by a Diablo voice actor.

It was a really bad over the top impersonation though.

What about ScarJo as an Asian character in Ghost in the Shell?

Originally posted by cdtm
Will be interesting seeing how the argument holds up to fluid identity politics.

Unless they choose to ignore that elephant in the room.

LoL

Monty Python-ish

Originally posted by cdtm
Will be interesting seeing how the argument holds up to fluid identity politics.

Unless they choose to ignore that elephant in the room.

I've thought about this same thing!

It's a tricky slope. Like now that Eliot Page has transitioned to Male, he's now playing a female character on Umbrella Academy.

Like where's the line? I know he was already playing her before his transition, and I know it's difficult for trans actors to get roles, so it's kinda weird to parse.

Originally posted by Robtard
LoL

Monty Python-ish

Originally posted by Blakemore
Cleveland from family guy is a black male cartoon voiced by a white guy...

Not anymore.

Originally posted by Trocity
Not anymore.