Kristen Bell, Jenny Slate Step Down from Voicing Mixed-Race Characters, Will Recast with Black Actors

In response to Bell and Slate stepping down, James Earl Jones became a topic of debate on Twitter as some online made cries of hypocrisy as they pointed to the legendary actor providing the voice for Darth Vader, a "white character," in the Star Wars films. An argument swiftly dismissed by many on Twitter as ignorant to the history and reality of systemic racism.

"James earl jones played darth vader a white guy," a person wrote. "No one thought it was weird. Uncle phil voice shredder a japanese character no one found it weird? Lmao. Voice actors bring a voice to a character not a race."

"I've never understood this mentality," another tweeted in response to a news article about Slate. "Isn't a big pull of voice acting that you don't have to match the character you play?"

However, many Twitter users squashed this argument, stressing that a Black actor voicing or playing a white character isn't reverse racism as white people do not experience the oppression of systemic racism.

"If there's an talented voice actor that is race appropriate, cast that actor. It's simple," a user wrote.

"'You see, it's okay for a white person to play a black person because a female plays Bart Simpson' is the absolute dumbest hot-take possible," another chimed in. "So is 'BUT JAMES EARL JONES..' Was playing a cyborg man in a robot suit, not a white guy. He was playing something that doesn't exist."'

The user continued, "In fact, the argument makes no sense because he was playing the voice the suit makes, not Anakin.  And also, the part was created with George Lucas using Orson Welles as his reference. He wanted to offer it to Welles but was afraid the voice would be too familiar. Good call that."

As the Black Lives Matter protests continue to affect change in Hollywood and beyond, two white actresses have made the decision to step away from mixed-race characters they've been voicing to allow Black performers to step into those Black roles.

Jenny Slate was first to make the announcement on Wednesday, saying that she had decided to step down from her role as Missy, a mixed-race character on Netflix's "Big Mouth," because she could no longer justify playing the role.

The "Saturday Night Live" alum revealed that she had justified to herself taking on the role initially, but could no longer do so.

"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. "But ‘Missy’ is also Black and Black characters on an animated show should be played by Black people."

She said that her original justification was not only "flawed" but "an example of white privilege and unjust allowances made within a system of societal white supremacy," saying that her taking this role was "engaging in an act of erasure of Black people."

She concluded by apologizing for the ways in which she is part of the problem, vowing to learn and "engage in meaningful anti-racist action" and insist, "Black voices must be heard."

It was a similar sentiment to the one shared by Kristen Bell when she made effectively the same decision for her voice-over work for a mixed-race character on the Apple TV+ series "Central Park."

"This is a time to acknowledge our acts of complicity. Here is one of mine," Bell said in a statement acknowledging her decision. "Playing the character of Molly on Central Park shows a lack of awareness of my pervasive privilege."

She went on to say that casting a white person to portray a mixed-race person "undermines the specificity of the mixed race and Black American experience."

"I am happy to relinquish this role to someone who can give a much more accurate portrayal and I will commit to learning, growing and doing my part for equality and inclusion," Bell concluded.

Her comments accompanied a statement from producers of the Netflix series, which just wrapped its first season. In it, producers said that Kristen would remain a part of the "Central Park" family, just in a different role.

They also promised to do more both with their performers and elsewhere in the production to ensure the greatest possible representation and diversity of voices and experiences.

"Our shop and our show will be better for respecting the nuances and complexity around the issue of representation and trying to get it right," they said in their statement.

"Central Park" has not yet been renewed for a second season. Netflix has already picked up "Big Mouth" through a sixth season. It is preparing to begin production on its fifth (production has finished on Season 4, thought it has not yet aired).

Got a story or tip for us? Email TooFab editors at tips@toofab.com.