The creators of The Simpsons have revealed that they will no longer allow white actors to cover the voice of colored characters.
The series has been published since the late 1980s and has gone through 31 seasons so far.
While the comedy characters have been remarkably diverse, there has been a lack of more visible diversity behind the scenes.
But now the showâ??s bosses have agreed that white actors shouldnâ??t cover the voice of colored characters.
On Friday, the show released the statement: "Moving forward, 'The Simpsons' will no longer have white actors covering the voice of colored characters."
The Simpsons has a number of well-known characters of various ethnic backgrounds including Dr. Julius M. Hibbert, whose voice is covered by Harry Shearer.
While the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon has been covered by Hank Azaria since he first appeared on the show in 1990.
Comedian Hari Kondabolu published a documentary in 2017 entitled "The Problem with Apu", in which he criticized the character as a stereotype of South Asia.
While critics have called for the character to be banned since 2017.
The announcement from "The Simpsons" came as the actor of "The Cleveland Show", Mike Henry, revealed that he would no longer cover the voice of the main character in the show.
Mike has been Cleveland Brown's voice for 20 years since the character first debuted in Family Guy.
Mike said on Twitter on Friday: "I love this character, but people of color should play with characters of color. Therefore, I will withdraw from the role."
The move is linked to a shift in attitudes toward race in America and elsewhere in the world, following the death of George Floyd last month.
