The Simpsons actor Harry Shearer on new rule that prevents white actors from playing POC

recent Black Lives Matter protests in United States has reignited discussion about representation in film industry. Diversity has always been a problem in Hollywood, and in animation industry, hiring white voice actors to play people of colour was rm for several deces. However, several animated shows, including  Simpsons, have w decided to stop using white actors to play people of colour (POC). Recently, Harry Shearer, a voice actor from  Simpsons, spoke out against this new mandate in animation industry. 

Simpsons voice actor Harry Shearer on new mandate against using white actors for POC roles

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For longest time, Harry Shearer was voice for Mr Burns, Ned Flanders, and Dr Hibbert on  Simpsons. However, makers of  Simpsons have w decided to work on ir diversity issue and have stopped all white actors from playing people of colour on ir show. After this new mandate, Harry Shearer will longer be voicing role of Dr Hibbert, who is a black man. 

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Speaking to Times Rio, Harry Shearer revealed that he was against this new mandate in Hollywood, as he felt like people should be able to act in roles that y have never experienced. Harry Shearer stated that he h a very simple belief about acting. He claimed that an actor's job was to play someone who y are t. He ded that being someone else was very essence of acting as a job. 

Furr explaining his point, Harry Shearer stated that he h thing in common with most of his characters, but that did t affect his acting skills in any way. He ded that he could still play role of Mr Burns well, even though he h thing in common with antagonist character. 

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This is t first time that  Simpsons has been called out for its lack of diversity and representation. For several years, actor Hank Azaria voiced role of an Indian-American man named Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. Many people criticised Azaria and  Simpsons for sharing harmful Indian stereos through Apu's depiction. Hank Azaria finally quit role of Apu in January of 2020, after several people called out  Simpsons for its diversity problem. 

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[promo from episode of Simpsons]