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The Simpsons actor Harry Shearer opposes the idea that white actors shouldn’t be able to voice non-white characters. Staring down questions of bias and privilege, animated series like Central Park and Family Guy have tried to respond to the prevalence of white actors voicing people of color.
The Simpsons has been a lightning rod for this particular issue, especially as it relates to Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. Debuting in 1990, as a clerk in a convenience store, the character would go on to acquire depth and popularity over the course of many seasons, but also a fair amount of controversy. He was the subject of the 2017 documentary, titled The Problem with Apu, in which comedian Hari Kondabolu delved into the fact that Apu helped to propagate stereotypes about South Asians. The Simpsons was initially dismissive of the controversy, even responding to it with mockery in an episode. As the issue remained in the public consciousness however, Hank Azaria announced that he would no longer voice the character and explained why he believed stepping away from the role was the right decision. Harry Shearer, who voices many characters on The Simpsons, including Ned Flanders and the Black character of Dr. Hibbert, revealed his own views on the subject in recent remarks.
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In an interview with Times Radio, Shearer explained his differing opinion. “I have a very simple belief about acting,” Shearer said. “The job of the actor is to play someone who they are not. That’s the gig, that’s the job description.” Shearer added that his point of view wasn’t financially motivated, joking that he wasn’t paid by the voice.
Shearer did note the importance of representation behind the camera, in terms of hiring an inclusive group of writers and producers, which would ensure that stories of people from different communities would be reflected on screen. Shearer’s comments echo the famous remarks made by Scarlett Johansson, in which the Black Widow star argued that she should be free to play any role she wanted regardless of the character’s specificities. These statements reflect a disagreement in the acting community about what aspects should be prioritized when casting for a project. In another way, it also reflects the trouble with limiting the importance of inclusion to the symbolic realm of representation. While representation is a significant goal, it negates the more immediate and pressing issue of economic fairness.
Shearer has been with The Simpsons since its inception in 1989, voicing a number of iconic characters and gaining financially as a result. Johansson, for her part, routinely lands on the list of highest-paid actresses. Both performers are well-known and respected, with a plethora of well-known credits and critically-lauded performances under their belts. By providing the voice of a non-white character, or by playing a minority character in a big blockbuster, they are inevitably taking away job opportunity from groups of people that rarely have roles written for them. The entertainment industry, like other spaces in society, is riddled with bias and preferential treatment. So long as that remains to be the case, it is the responsibility of successful actors to lift up their frequently marginalized peers.
Source: Times Radio
