Featured Image Credit: dpa picture alliance / Alamy Stock Photo. Adult Swim.
Topics: News, Crime, Film and TV, Rick and Morty
Charisa Bossinakis
Topics: News, Crime, Film and TV, Rick and Morty
Despite Justin Roiland’s domestic violence charges being dropped, he won’t be returning to voice characters on Rick and Morty anytime soon.
Roiland - who voices both Rick and Morty - was booted off the popular animation series after it was revealed he had been in court over domestic violence charges from allegations that stemmed back to 2020.
The complaint was filed in May of that year by the Orange County District Attorney.
The writer and actor pleaded not guilty to one felony count of domestic battery with corporal injury and one felony count of false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud and/or deceit.
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Shortly after news broke, Roiland was let go from his position on Rick and Morty, with Adult Swim later cutting ties with him completely.
In a statement, Adult Swim/Cartoon Network/Boomerang Senior VP Communications Marie Moore said: "Adult Swim has ended its association with Justin Roiland."
However, California prosecutors explained in March that the domestic violence charges against the 43-year-old had been dropped.
Orange County District Attorney's spokeswoman, Kimberly Edds, said the two felony counts involving a former lover of Roiland’s were dropped ‘due to a lack of sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt’, as per ABC News.
Roiland issued a statement via Twitter, claiming he always knew these allegations were ‘false’ and wanted now ‘to move forward’.
"I'm thankful that this case has been dismissed but, at the same time, I'm still deeply shaken by the horrible lies that were reported about me during this process," he said.
He added: "I'm so disappointed that so many people were so quick to judge without knowing the facts, based solely on the word of an embittered ex trying to bypass due process and have me 'canceled'.
"That it may have succeeded, even partially, is shameful."
But despite Roiland’s charges being dropped, Cartoon Network president Michael Ouweleen and Rick and Morty producer Steve Levy confirmed he would be replaced in the upcoming season, according to the French outlet Premiere.
They shared they were still in the ‘recruitment phase’ for finding a new voice actor.
“It's a rather unique situation," Ouweleen said.
"I'll take an example: there have been several great Bugs Bunny voice actors, and I love what Jeff Bennett has done with them.
"But it's not Mel Blanc! And yet we recognize the character. I even think that for Rick and Morty we will do even better... It will be fine. It'll be great."