History RoleEndingMisdemeanor / WesternAnimation

* Even Creator/ChuckJones wasn't immune to this. His time as an animation director with Creator/WarnerBros came to an end in 1962 when the studio found out he'd put his name on UPA's project ''WesternAnimation/GayPurree''[[note]]which was ironically distributed by Warner[[/note]], which violated their exclusivity contract and got Jones booted out of the studio. Fortunately, this proved to be a mere hiccup for him, as he and most of his staff went to Sib Tower 12 Productions, which later became the visual arts division of Creator/{{MGM}}—with whom Jones would produce [[Literature/TheDotAndTheLine several more masterpieces]] [[WesternAnimation/HowTheGrinchStoleChristmas of animation]].

** After Kricfalusi's [[https://www.buzzfeed.com/arianelange/john-kricfalusi-ren-stimpy-underage-sexual-abuse?utm_term=.dvZvXMkKv#.xd1QbAqkQ sexual predator behavior towards underage girls came to light]] in March 2018, he was immediately fired from the new cartoon studio he tried to launch in Florida and his career never recovered. Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}, Creator/CartoonNetwork, and Creator/AdultSwim have already stated that they would never work with him again in light of this news, and he is also pointedly [[https://www.polygon.com/animation-cartoons/2020/8/5/21355393/new-ren-stimpy-reboot-comedy-central-john-k-accusations not involved]] with Creator/ComedyCentral's upcoming reboot of the show.

* Following his charges of domestic violence, and subsequent allegations of grooming minors, Creator/AdultSwim dismissed ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' co-creator and voice actor Creator/JustinRoiland in January 2023, announcing the show would continue and [[TheOtherDarrin his roles would be recast.]] The next day, Creator/{{Hulu}} announced they had removed him from his other shows, ''WesternAnimation/SolarOpposites'' and ''WesternAnimation/KoalaMan''. While the latter will continue, as he was only a producer, the former's fate is still up in the air.

* Creator/CarloBonomi was deemed unable to reprise his roles for ''WesternAnimation/{{Pingu}}'' when Creator/HiTEntertainment revived the series six years after the last episodes of the original series were produced. Although the exact reason for this is unknown, it's been said that Bonomi's inability to learn or speak English made it impractical for his new London executives to work with him, and he was consequently dismissed. Two local actors from London, one of whom had Italian ancestry similar to Bonomi, took his place instead.

* Creator/ChrisSavino was suspended and subsequently dropped from ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'' following numerous claims of sexual harassment and threats of blacklisting his co-workers following the end of consensual relationships which had gone back as far as 2004 over multiple productions that he'd been involved with. While Savino would later apologize for the incident, story editor Michael Rubiner took over his position as showrunner. As of January 2022, Savino has been focusing on writing several books teaching about animation along with several comic strips, most notably the Sunday-only ''For Brothers'' (not surprising, considering his appreciation for the art even made it onto ''The Loud House'', as all 4 of the family's pets are named for notable comic artists).

* Skyler Page, the creator and former voice of ''WesternAnimation/{{Clarence}}'', was fired from Creator/CartoonNetwork after a number of incidents related to his increasing mental instability, the last straw being when a storyboard artist for ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' accused him of sexually assaulting her. Both positions were then taken over by writer Spencer Rothbell. The only thing Page worked on after being fired from CN was ''WesternAnimation/TripTank''; following its cancellation in 2016, Page has never worked in animation again.

* Creator/CarloBonomi was deemed unable to reprise his roles for ''WesternAnimation/{{Pingu}}'' when Creator/HiTEntertainment revived the series six years after the last episodes of the original series were produced. Although the exact reason for this is unknown, it's been said that Bonomi's inability to learn or speak English made it impractical for his new London executives to work with him, and he was consequently dismissed. Two local actors from London, one of whom had Italian ancestry similar to Bonomi, took his place instead.

Here are some [[RoleEndingMisdemeanor cautionary tales]] for people aspiring to work in the Western animation industry.

* Following his charges of domestic violence, and subsequent allegations of grooming minors, Creator/AdultSwim dismissed ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' co-creator and voice actor Creator/JustinRoiland in January 2023, announcing the show would continue and [[TheOtherDarrin his roles would be recast.]] The next day, Creator/{{Hulu}} announced they had removed him from ''WesternAnimation/SolarOpposites'' and ''WesternAnimation/KoalaMan'' (the former he created and voiced, the latter he produced and also voiced).

* Following his charges of domestic violence, and subsequent allegations of grooming minors, Creator/AdultSwim dismissed ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' co-creator and voice actor Creator/JustinRoiland in January 2023, announcing the show would continue and [[TheOtherDarrin his roles would be recast.]] The next day, Creator/{{Hulu}} announced they had booted him from ''WesternAnimation/SolarOpposites'' and ''WesternAnimation/KoalaMan'' (the former he created and voiced, the latter he produced and also voiced).

* Following his charges of domestic violence, and subsequent allegations of grooming minors, Creator/AdultSwim dismissed ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' co-creator and voice actor Creator/JustinRoiland in January 2023, announcing the show would continue and [[TheOtherDarrin his roles would be recast.]] The next day, Creator/Hulu announced they had booted him from ''WesternAnimation/SolarOpposites'' and ''WesternAnimation/KoalaMan'' (the former he created and voiced, the latter he produced and also voiced).

%% Do not add Justin Roiland until February 7, 2023! Administrivia/NoRecentExamplesPlease

* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' co-creator, writer, and voice actor Justin Roiland was removed in 2023 from all his roles following various criminal charges (chief among them domestic battery) being publicized.[[note]]The charges were actually made in 2020, but the trial was scheduled for 2023, and they weren't reported on until then.[[/note]] Squanch Games, which he co-founded, also accepted his resignation a week prior.

* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' co-creator, writer, and voice actor Justin Roiland was removed in 2023 from all his roles following various criminal charges (chief among them domestic battery) being publicized.[[note]]The charges were actually made in 2020, but the trial was scheduled for 2023, and they weren't reported on until then.[[/note]]

* Following reports on Creator/JustinRoiland's domestic abuse charges, Creator/AdultSwim dismissed him from ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' in January 2023, with production on that show to continue without him.

* [[WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero Chris]] [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers Latta]], under the name Christopher Collins, was the original choice to voice Mr. Burns and Moe Syzlak on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. Midway through the first season, he was let go and his roles were given to Creator/HarryShearer and Creator/HankAzaria respectively. [[https://youtu.be/O5TaYFi4UVA In an interview with GQ]], Azaria claimed that Creator/MattGroening had fired Chris for "generally jerky behavior", though the specifics of said behavior is unknown. Chris ultimately died in 1994 of a brain hemorrhage.
* Creator/AllisonMack, best known for playing Chloe Sullivan in ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', voiced Dorothy’s mother Evelyn in the first season of ''WesternAnimation/LostInOz''. After she got arrested for her involvement in a sex-trafficking cult (made worse by the revelation that she was the second-in-command ''and'' that she had also tried to get other female celebrities to join the cult), her role was recast to Creator/GreyDeLisle for the rest of the series and her name in the first season's credits was removed.

* Following reports on Creator/JustinRoiland’s domestic abuse charges, Creator/AdultSwim choose to fire him from ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' with production on that show to continue without him.
* Creator/ChrisSavino was suspended and subsequently dropped from ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'' following numerous claims of sexual harassment and threats of blacklisting his co-workers following the end of consensual relationships which had gone back as far as 2004 over multiple productions that he'd been involved with. While Savino would later apologize for the incident, story editor Michael Rubiner took over his position as showrunner. As of January 2022, Savino seems to have left the animation industry entirely and is instead focusing on writing several books teaching about animation along with several comic strips, most notably the Sunday-only ''For Brothers'' (not surprising, considering his appreciation for the art even made it onto ''The Loud House'', as all 4 of the family's pets are named for notable comic artists).

* In the Latin-American Spanish dub of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Creator/MiguelAngelGhigliazza was the actor originally cast as Homer Simpson. However, on the first day of recording, he arrived drunk and was in no condition to record, so he was replaced by Creator/HumbertoVelez, who would go on to become Homer's most iconic voice actor in the region. Ghigliazza for his part still enjoyed a succesful career until his death in 2022, despite the incident (he was the recurring dubbing actor for Creator/DannyTrejo, for one example).

* In the Latin-American Spanish dub of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Creator/MiguelAngelGhigliazza was the actor originally cast as Homer Simpson. However, on the first day of recording, he arrived drunk and was in no condition to record, so he was replaced by Creator/HumbertoVelez, who would go on to become Homer's most iconic voice actor in the region. Ghigliazza for his part still enjoys a succesful career to this day, despite the incident (he's the recurring dubbing actor for Creator/DannyTrejo, for one example).

Here are some [[RoleEndingMisdemeanor cautionary tales]] for those who want to work in the Western animation industry.

* Psychobilly musician [[Music/UnknownHinson Stuart "Unknown Hinson" Baker]] was fired from his role as main character Early Cuyler on ''WesternAnimation/{{Squidbillies}}'' in August 2020 after he [[https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/squidbillies-stuart-baker-unknown-hinson-dolly-parton-black-lives-matter-1234737440/ made disparaging comments]] about Music/DollyParton after she expressed support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Reverend Guitars also [[https://twitter.com/ReverendGuitars/status/1294710394163007488 stopped production]] of their Unknown Hinson signature guitar after Baker's comments. Early was ultimately recast with Creator/TracyMorgan for the show’s final season.

* In his first cartoon appearance, ''WesternAnimation/{{Popeye}}'' was voiced by William Costello. However, Costello's behavior came in conflict with UsefulNotes/TheHaysCode, which led to Costello being replaced with the more well-known performance of Jack Mercer. Mercer continued the role for the next five decades until his 1984 death.

* In his first cartoon appearance, ''WesternAnimation/{{Popeye}}'' was voiced by William Costello. However, Costello's behavior came in conflict with UsefulNotes/TheHaysCode, which led to Costello being replaced with the more well-known performance of Jack Mercer.

* Joe Dougherty, the original voice of WesternAnimation/PorkyPig, was dropped by Creator/WarnerBrothers in 1937 when they realized Dougherty's inability to control his stutter (which had made Porky so popular to begin with) made him a large liability once the character became popular. He was replaced with Creator/MelBlanc beginning with the short ''Porky's Duck Hunt'', who continued the role for the next five decades, while Dougherty largely retired from acting afterwards until his death in 1978. The incident also threatened the career of fellow WB staple Creator/FrizFreleng, who'd cast Dougherty in the first place:

* Joe Dougherty, the original voice of WesternAnimation/PorkyPig, was dropped by Creator/WarnerBrothers in 1937 when they realized Dougherty's inability to control his stutter (which had made Porky so popular to begin with) made him a large liability once the character became popular. He was replaced with Creator/MelBlanc beginning with the short ''Porky's Duck Hunt'', who continued the role for next five decades. The incident also threatened the career of fellow WB staple Creator/FrizFreleng, who'd cast Dougherty in the first place:

* In the Latin-American Spanish dub of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Miguel Ángel Ghigliazza was the actor originally cast as Homer Simpson. However, on the first day of recording, he arrived drunk and was in no condition to record, so he was replaced by Creator/HumbertoVelez, who would go on to become Homer's most iconic voice actor in the region. Ghigliazza for his part still enjoys a succesful career to this day, despite the incident (he's the recurring dubbing actor for Creator/DannyTrejo, for one example).

* Allison Mack, best known for playing Chloe Sullivan in ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', voiced Dorothy’s mother Evelyn in the first season of ''WesternAnimation/LostInOz''. After she got arrested for her involvement in a sex-trafficking cult (made worse by the revelation that she was the second-in-command ''and'' that she had also tried to get other female celebrities to join the cult), her role was recast to Creator/GreyDeLisle for the rest of the series and her name in the first season's credits was removed.

* As noted on the Live-Action TV page, Creator/OrlandoBrown's legal troubles are likely the reason why his character Sticky Webb from ''WesternAnimation/TheProudFamily'' didn't return for the revival series ''WesternAnimation/TheProudFamilyLouderAndProuder''.