Hollywood appears to finally be taking diversity and representation seriously, as news surfaces that yet another white actor has stepped down from voicing a Black animated character. Harry Shearer, a famed comedian and voice actor who has appeared in projects like <a href="https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/the-simpsons-x-adidas-zx-10000-pays-homage-to-krusty-burger-news.125190.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Simpsons</a> and The Truman Show, will no longer be voicing one of The Simpsons&#8216; most well-known Black characters.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/userfiles/68/40/924068_f2fb64ffa921d385e3091562549a3e22.jpg" alt='"The Simpsons" Star Harry Shearer Steps Down From Voicing Black Character'><figcaption>Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
According to the New York Post, Shearer has voiced the Black character Dr. Hibbert, Springfield’s most skilled doctor, since 1990 in addition to other Simpsons characters like Ned Flanders and Principal Skinner. Ahead of its February 28 episode, The Simpsons has announced that the role of Dr. Hibbert has been recast, removing Shearer from the role in favor of The Cleveland Show alumnus Kevin Michael Richardson. The upcoming episode this Sunday will officially mark the show&#8217;s recasting
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/userfiles/10/19/211910_c9990693100df62a12ff357916cbeed1.jpg" alt='"The Simpsons" Star Harry Shearer Steps Down From Voicing Black Character'><figcaption>Amy Sussman/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
The Simpsons&#8216; decision to recast Shearer follows several other moves by white voice actors following the Black Lives Matter protests of last summer. Most notably, <a href="https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/jenny-slate-resigns-from-big-mouth-character-should-be-played-by-black-person-news.113228.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Jenny Slate resigned</a> from playing Missy for Netflix&#8217;s Big Mouth, and <a href="https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/family-guy-star-mike-henry-will-no-longer-voice-cleveland-brown-character-news.113341.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mike Henry stepped down</a> from the iconic role of Cleveland Brown on Family Guy.
What do you think about the Dr. Hibbert recast and Hollywood&#8217;s shift towards proper representation in animation? 
[<a href="https://nypost.com/2021/02/22/harry-shearer-no-longer-voicing-black-simpsons-character/?_ga=2.91454106.1477269633.1614002229-1188657019.1550066164" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">via</a>]