After 30 years, The Simpsons is finally replacing the white voice artist of Black character, Dr. Hibbert with a Black actor.
In the last three decades, Harry Shearer, a white voice actor, has provided the voice for the Black doctor on the show as well as several white characters. Indeed, Shearer is the voice of Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, and Mr. Burns and will continue to be.
However, he will no longer portray Dr. Hibbert - instead, Kevin Michael Richardson will be taking over.
Fox told Deadline that the latest episode of the animated series, Diary Queen, would be the final episode in which Shearer provides the voice for Dr. Hibbert. It was also revealed Richardson's voice would feature on the show from February 28.
Richardson is something of voice acting veteran, having portrayed characters in shows such as Family Guy, American Dad!, Guardians of the Galaxy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Bless The Harts.
The decision comes amid concerns that POC characters are being whitewashed as they are often not portrayed by actors of a corresponding racial background.
The discussion was, in part, sparked by a debate that centered around Hank Azaria, a white actor, being the voice of Kwik-E-Mart owner Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.
Last year, Azaria revealed in an interview with the New York Times that he no longer wanted to portray the character after an increasing number of people criticized his depiction of the Indian character.
"Once I realized that that was the way this character was thought of, I just didn't want to participate in it anymore," Azaria said. "It just didn't feel right."
"What happened with this character is a window into an important issue," Azaria said. "It's a good way to start the conversation. I can be accountable and try to make up for it as best I can."
In an interview with Film, Azaria said: "All we know there is I won't be doing the voice anymore unless there's some way to transition it or something."
He also revealed that he would no longer depict Homer's friend and colleague, Carl Carlson, who is Black.
A number of animated shows have decided to follow suit. For example, Mike Henry will no longer be voicing Black character Cleveland Brown in Family Guy and Jenny Slate will retire from her role as the voice of Black and Jewish character Missy in Big Mouth.
