Kristen Bell will not return as the voice of Central Park’s mixed race Molly after the first season.
The 39-year-old actress announced she would step down to give the opportunity to “someone who can give a much more accurate representation.”
‘This is a time to acknowledge our acts of complicity. Here’s one of mine. Playing the character of Molly in Central Park shows a lack of awareness of my widespread privilege, ” she wrote via Instagram on Wednesday.
Committed to Inclusion: Kristen Bell Won’t Come Back as Voice of Central Park Molly’s Mixed Race After Season One (Seen in January)
He continued: “Launching a mixed-race character with a white actress undermines the specificity of the mixed race and the African-American experience.”
“It was wrong and we, on the Central Park team, are committed to correcting it,” he said, as he shared the series’ official statement.
Additionally, the mother of two said she is committed “to learning, growing, and doing my part for equality and inclusion.”
Making a change: The 39-year-old actress announced she would step down from her role to give the opportunity to ‘someone who can give a much more accurate representation’
‘This is a time to acknowledge our acts of complicity. Here’s one of mine. Playing the character of Molly in Central Park shows a lack of awareness of my widespread privilege, ” she wrote via Instagram on Wednesday.
Producers Loren Bouchard, Josh Gad, Nora Smith, Halstead Sullivan, and Sanjay Shah made the announcement for the first time and praised Bell for being an ‘extraordinarily talented actress’.
But, after much reflection on her and Central Park employees, they believe her character “is an opportunity to get a proper representation.”
“We deeply regret having contributed to anyone’s feeling of exclusion or erasure,” wrote the series’ producers.
“It was wrong and we, on the Central Park team, are committed to doing it right,” he said, as he shared the statement from the series’ producing team.
Generous: Bell later donated $ 50,000 to reach ‘additional black families’ to The Conscious Kid
“Black people and people of color have worked and will continue to work in Central Park, but we can do better,” they added.
Bell ‘will continue to be part of the heart of the show in a new role’ and was applauded for her ‘fun, heartfelt and beautiful performance’ in the first season.
Later in the day, Bell confirmed that he donated $ 50,000 to The Conscious Kid to ‘reach out’ to additional black families’ and his replacement’s salary will be matched.
It was an honor and a duty to help. No thanks, it’s necessary, ” Bell posted on her Instagram story, after being applauded by the group for their generosity.
“ Launching a mixed-race character with a white actress undermines the specificity of the mixed race and the African-American experience, ” Bell wrote.
The news follows Jenny Slate’s statement that she will no longer give Missy Foreman-Greenwald a voice in Big Mouth.
“ Today I have made the decision that I can no longer play the character of Missy on the animated television show Big Mouth, ” the 38-year-old actress wrote on Instagram.
She explained, “ At the beginning of the show, I reasoned to myself that Missy was allowed to play because her mother is Jewish and white, like me. ”
Finally, Slate concluded that “Missy is also black, and black characters in an animated show should be played by black people.”
Making Room: The news follows Jenny Slate’s statement that she will no longer give Missy Foreman-Greenwald a voice in Big Mouth (pictured in 2019)
The Gifted star called his decision to play the role for three seasons an “example of white privilege” and wants “to continue participating in significant anti-racist action.”
Black voices should be heard. Black Lives Matter, ‘he emphasized.
Bell and Slate appear to be stepping up after more than 300 black artists and executives urged Hollywood to “prove Black Lives Matter” on a powerful note for the entertainment industry.
“Missy is also black and black characters in an animated show that should be played by black people,” Slate said of the character she played for three seasons.
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