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 be stepping down from her role, in order to give the opportunity to ‘someone who can give a much more accurate portrayal.’
‘This is a time to acknowledge our acts of complicity. Here is one of mine. Playing the character of Molly on Central Park shows a lack of awareness of my pervasive privilege,’ she wrote via Instagram on Wednesday.
Committed to inclusivity: Kristen Bell will not return as the voice of Central Park‘s mixed race Molly after the first season (seen in January)
She continued: ‘Casting a mixed race character with a white actress undermines the specificity of the mixed race and Black American experience.’
‘It was wrong and we, on the Central Park team, are pledging to make it right,’ she said, while sharing 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 be stepping down from her role, in order to order to give the opportunity to ‘someone who can give a much more accurate portrayal’
‘This is a time to acknowledge our acts of complicity. Here is one of mine. Playing the character of Molly on Central Park shows a lack of awareness of my pervasive privilege,’ she wrote via Instagram on Wednesday
Producers Loren Bouchard, Josh Gad, Nora Smith, Halstead Sullivan and Sanjay Shah first made the announcement and commended Bell for being an ‘extraordinarily talented actress.’
But, after much reflection from her and the Central Park staffers, they believe her character ‘is an opportunity to get representation right.’
‘We profoundly regret that we might have contributed to anyone’s feeling of exclusion or erasure,’ the series’ producers wrote.
‘It was wrong and we, on the Central Park team, are pledging to make it right,’ she said, while sharing the series’ producing team’s statement
Generous: Bell later donated $50,000 to reach ‘additionally Black families’ to The Conscious Kid
‘Black people and people of color have worked and will continue to work on Central Park but we can do better,’ they added.
Bell will ‘continue to be a part of the heart of the show in a new role,’ and was applauded for her ‘funny, heartfelt, and beautiful performance’ in the first season.
The news follows Jenny Slate’s statement that she will no longer voice Missy Foreman-Greenwald on Big Mouth.
‘Casting a mixed race character with a white actress undermines the specificity of the mixed race and Black American experience,’ Bell wrote
‘I have come to the decision today that I can no longer play the character of Missy on the animated TV show Big Mouth,’ the 38-year-old actress wrote on Instagram.
She explained: ‘At the start of the show, I reasoned with myself that it was permissible for me to play Missy because her mom is Jewish and white — as am I.’
Ultimately, Slate concluded ‘Missy is also Black, and Black characters on an animated show should be played by Black people.’
Making room: The news follows Jenny Slate’s statement that she will no longer voice Missy Foreman-Greenwald on Big Mouth (pictured in 2019)
The Gifted star called her decision to portray the role for three seasons an ‘example of white privilege’ and wants to ‘continue to engage in meaningful anti-racist action.’
‘Black voices must be heard. Black Lives Matter,’ she stressed.
Bell and Slate appear to be stepping up after more than 300 Black artists and executives urged Hollywood to “prove that Black Lives Matter’ with a powerful note to the entertainment industry.
‘Missy is also Black and Black characters on an animated show should be played by Black people,’ Slate stressed of the character she played for three seasons