More and more voice actors who portray Black characters are exiting from their roles. Family Guy star, Mike Henry, announced his plans to step down as Cleveland Brown on Twitter.
“It’s been an honor to play Cleveland on Family Guy for 20 years,” he wrote. “I love this character, but persons of color should play characters of color. Therefore, I will be stepping down from the role.”
It’s been an honor to play Cleveland on Family Guy for 20 years. I love this character, but persons of color should play characters of color. Therefore, I will be stepping down from the role. pic.twitter.com/FmKasWITKT
— Mike Henry (@mikehenrybro) June 26, 2020
Henry has been riding with Family Guy since the first season in 1999. Aside from the main Black character on the show, Henry voiced Consuela, a Latina maid, Herbert, the perverted old man, and other supporting characters. Additionally, he voiced Cleveland’s stepson, Rallo Tubbs, on the spinoff series, The Cleveland Show.
The spinoff only aired for four seasons from 2009 to 2013.
Mike Henry joins the list of white voice actors who are rightfully abandoning their roles as Black animated characters including Jenny Slate, Kristen Bell.
