Current Events > Jenny Slate Exits Big Mouth: Black Characters Should Be Played by Black People

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/jenny-slate-big-mouth-missy-1234648600/

Jenny Slate is exiting her role as Missy (pictured above, center) on the Netflix show Big Mouth due to the character being biracial while Slate is white. At the start of the show, I reasoned with myself that it was permissible for me to play Missy because her mom is Jewish and white as am I, Slate wrote on Instagram. But Missy is also Black and Black characters on an animated show should be played by Black people. Slate went on to acknowledge that by portraying Missy she was engaging in an act of erasure of Black people. Ending my portrayal of Missy is one step in a life-long process of uncovering the racism in my actions, she continued.

Big Mouth co-creators Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Mark Levin, and Jennifer Flackett posted a statement as well supporting Slates decision. We sincerely apologize for and regret our original decision to cast a white actor to voice a biracial character. The creators then vowed to recast the role with a Black actor. We look forward to being able to explore Missys story with even greater authenticity in the years to come, they concluded.

---

...alright

---

Kinda says a lot about the creators of the show that they even thought this was ok for years.

---

I tried watching this with a few friends and I just couldn't get into it. These adult cartons are too weird for me.

Anyway, the bigger problem this shows off is how limited the talent pool is when it comes to BIPOC in the TV and film industry. We need more biracial talent along with everything else. I was thinking about who they might get for Kamala Khan because there isn't really any young Pakistani actresses in the game right now. So are they going to get someone that's Indian? You know what I'm saying?

I don't know, I always found it weird in stuff like games and anime when white people would do a black voice. However, I really enjoyed Christopher Judge's Kratos (Teal'C from Stargate SG1)

---

MelbuFrahma4 posted...

Kinda says a lot about the creators of the show that they even thought this was ok for years.

Ignoring the fact that voice actors play all sorts of roles, what isn't mentioned but was brought up in another topic is that she is half Jewish and the character she is playing is half-black half-jewish.

---

Who should voice Bugs Bunny?

---

MelbuFrahma4 posted...

Kinda says a lot about the creators of the show that they even thought this was ok for years.

To be fair they have several high profile mixed race people in the main cast.

Jordan Peele
Maya Rudolph
Fred Armisen

Fred Armisen plays a white character, actually. Im sure it was just an attitude that its just voice acting so it doesnt matter whos doing it

fwiw it genuinely seems like Jenny Slate wants to open up an opportunity for an mixed/black actor rather than something theyre being forced to do

---

The art style of this show always made me want to vomit. I did think it had some funny moments in the first few episodes I watched, but it is just so unnerving to look at.

---

I'm lost on this one.

I get the argument of live action actors portraying other races.

But voice acting with animated characters? Who the fuck cares?

Who lost any sleep when Mass Effect cast a black chick to voice Ashley Williams? the girl next to her was voicing a blue alien.

Hire whoever the best voice actor is. Race doesn't effect your damn voice.
---

1NfamousACE_2 posted...

Who should voice Bugs Bunny?

A bunny

---

Phil LaMarr is next

---

She should be ashamed of herself for what she did. There is no excuse.

---