Adult Swim cuts ties with 'Rick and Morty' co-creator Justin Roiland after domestic violence charges | Mashable.

Adult Swim dumps 'Rick and Morty' co-creator and star Justin Roiland after domestic violence charges

The charges were brought in 2020, but have only recently gained widespread attention.

The show will go on — just without Justin Roiland. Credit: Michael Kovac / Getty Images For IMDb

Adult Swim has cut ties with Rick and Morty co-creator and star Justin Roiland, and is moving forward with the cult show's new season without him. The announcement comes in the wake of felony domestic violence charges against Roiland being made public.

Roiland's presumably involuntary departure was revealed in a post on the official Rick and Morty Twitter account(Opens in a new window) on Tuesday. The post was subsequently retweeted by the official Adult Swim account.

"Adult Swim has ended its association with Justin Roiland," the account wrote in a black and white text image. "Rick and Morty will continue. The talented and dedicated crew are hard at work on Season 7."

In addition to co-creating and executive producing Rick and Morty, Roiland has provided the voice for both title characters for all six seasons of the show thus far. A spokesperson for Adult Swim's parent company Warner Bros. Discovery has said these roles will now be recast(Opens in a new window).

Roiland was charged with domestic violence in May 2020, however the public wasn't made aware of the case until he appeared in court for a pre-trial hearing earlier this month(Opens in a new window). NBC News reported that the 42-year-old has pleaded not guilty to two felonies: domestic battery with corporal injury, and false imprisonment by menace, fraud, violence, or deceit. His hearing is currently scheduled for Apr. 27.

Adult Swim ordered at least 70 more episodes of Rick and Morty back in 2018, signing a long term deal with Roiland and co-creator Dan Harmon. The show has since released 30 episodes across three seasons, meaning more than half of that original 70-episode order will now be made with a new cast.

UPDATE: Jan. 25, 2023, 12:02 p.m. AEDT High on Life developer Squanch Games has just announced it is also no longer working with Roiland. "On January 16, 2023, Squanch Games received Justin Roiland's resignation," the studio announced via Twitter. "The passionate team at Squanch will keep developing games we know our fans will love while continuing to support and improve High on Life." Released in December last year, High on Life is a first-person shooter based on a concept by Roiland, who was heavily involved in its development.

Comments

  1. They should just get Christopher Lloyd and Michael J Fox to do the voices instead.

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    Replies
    1. That would be interesting. I'm guessing Christopher as Rick and Michael as Morty? That would be fairly cool.

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    2. this is the only way it will work moving forward. If not just end the show

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    3. u know dan harmon gonna do them now right?

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    4. that would be awesome!🙌🏾

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  2. They should wait until the result of the court case. Not saying he's innocent but what happened to innocent until.proven guilty. I know nothing about the incident but their can be 2 very different sides to every story.

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    Replies
    1. That only applies in a court of law. Roiland more than likely violated terms of his his contract.

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    2. There's been rumblings online that the domestic is only the tip of the iceberg.

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    3. agree, and if adult swim and the other co creator new about it all this time they should have parted ways with him immediately. Not do another few seasons then when it becomes public (and they have made their money from those few seasons) drop him

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    4. usually 3 sides, dude. Our side, their side, and the truth.

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    5. while the court case is still pending, if you look into it there are enough screen shots of him being creepy to minors online that even if he is exonerated he's still not the kind of guy a network wants to publically shovel money onto

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    6. innocent until proven guilty applies to the court, not a brand protecting their property. They’ve looked at the potential risk to something they owned and decided he wasn’t worth the risk. Simple.

      These charges stem from 2020, his partner at the time was granted an order of protection which requires proof. The reason today that Adult Swim cut ties is because now additional people have come forward with very similar claims including predatory actions towards minors. A court will determine his legal culpability but brands and people can make their own decisions based on evidence.

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    7. You'd think they'd learn from Johnny Depp's case but apparently not.

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    8. because the screenshots of him messaging inappropriate things to minors already proves he’s guilty of other things. It’s about more then the charges.

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    9. as I said, I know nothing about the case. Obviously a lot more to it

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    10. so why make the comment?

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    11. yes, but why can't we wait for actual court decisions, you know, it's called due process for a reason. That excuse that it's ok for private persons to come together and exact their brand of justice we've seen before in the middle ages 🙄 remember what the likes of you did to johnny Depp just recently? 🙄

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    12. remember how the likes of you completely ignored that another court found Depp guilty?

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    13. yes, and the final verdict is? Remember how the original court case missed so much details that came out of the second to the point Amber Heard had to admit and confessed to them? Yup, the proof of the pudding is in the details, but most of you are too bloodthirsty to even bother with facts and details and just go with mob chants. You're the townspeople who at the end of the movie who insincerely says sorry but would do it again. A civilized society respect due process, it's hubris for people to justify that they holds the power to exact justice and retribution. The most you can do is boycott on your own, that's right you are entitled to, but it's a different scenario when people like you coalesce together with the proverbial pitchfork and torches and think you can't wait for the corrupt courts to decide because you're better judge

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    14. and no, we didn't ignore the first court decision, we waited to see how everything unfolds while you people were out pressuring Disney to drop Depp even when the first court case had started. Oh look, you're doing it again 😂🙄

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    15. was gonna say the same, talks of pedophilia were happening just last year

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    16. there is mounting evidence of sexual harassment. He also was trying to sleep with underage girls.

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    17. mounting? That lovely way of suggesting a rapidly increasing preponderance when 0 to 1 piece of evidence could also be mounting

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    18. there are about 5 cases I have seen--both of harassment and being sexually inappropriate with minors. More women/girls are coming forward. Just google his name and "jailbait" (This is what he called one girl).

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    19. If you being bad press for your employer, they can remove you to protect the brand. which to the company, is rule number one and the top priority for very obvious reasons.

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    20. could take years, plus this isn't the first of this - dig deep enough and you'll find more and more of his creepy dirt.

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  3. Should do a quick joke about it

    Rick “uuhhhh Morty, why does your(buuuuuurp) voice sound different?”

    Morty “aww geez, I’m going thru puberty, Rick, what’s your excuse?”

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  4. Continuing Rick and Morty? Just let it die… no one’s gonna watch after all this. Just leave things to die when they need to die!

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    Replies
    1. People watch Ricky pickles?

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    2. I separate Art from the artist, if it’s recasted idc tbh I’ll continue watching it

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    3. I still bump R Kelly and have a Hitler landscape print because I separate art from the artist too.

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  5. Does this mean that "Rick and Morty" will be less misogynistic?
    https://media1.tenor.co/images/9f6e9f56cf1263c0b15a82aab72b7713/tenor.gif?c=VjFfZmFjZWJvb2tfd2ViY29tbWVudHM&itemid=4705824

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    Replies
    1. hope whoever you were trying to impress with this comment saw it 🙏🏻

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    2. https://giphy.com/gifs/ytwfxx-1pAeTLBax3NuI57qGd

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  6. I’m not saying he’s innocent, but are we just gonna start firing people just because they’re charged with something?  What if they turn out to be false charges?

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    Replies
    1. Innocent or not, it's still a bad look to still be associated with someone with allegations like this. Why they waited 3 years to part ways with him is rather odd though.

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    2. weird how it's always a dude that asks this

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  7. Pretty serious charges 😳

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  8. "Morty we need to get another universe. I beat my wife in this one"

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  9. Why would you continue with different voices? Why can’t we let stuff just be over? Let’s keep making episodes until everyone is finally sick of it /s.

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  10. If they don't sound right it won't work... I'll wait and see

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    Replies
    1. just give it to this guy

      https://twitter.com/BriannaWu/status/1618071367940988928?t=llFdq7Eg12nxkbzt4B-pxQ&s=19

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    2. what is right ? The voice you got used too ?

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  11. Well goodbye rick and morty I guess lol

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    Replies
    1. why? Because no one can do the voices?

      https://twitter.com/BriannaWu/status/1618071367940988928?t=llFdq7Eg12nxkbzt4B-pxQ&s=19

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    2. Yeah well they better give him a call

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  12. Maybe they should wait until the final results.

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  13. So who is going to do most of the voices in the show then. Or is it gonna be like wrong sounding Muppets.

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  14. The fall of a great show smh it’s what they do when something becomes great they take it from you

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  15. what happened to innocent until proven guilty

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    Replies
    1. You know how it is If a company wants you out because you're costing them too much, they'll and any excuse to get rid of you and then hire two people who salaries equal yours alone . Guilty or innocent isn't the precursor. It's all about bad publicity.....ie Johnny Depp and Amber

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    2. or if you cannot come to work as your on trail and are bringing the company into disrepute.

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    3. that applies to the court system, not a private comments public image. Wouldn't surprise me if the charge violated the company's code of conduct.

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  16. Wait a second, this says charges, not "conviction".

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  17. No. They can cut ties and still deepfake his voice can’t they? The character voices are just too iconic to have it recast.

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  18. How you gonna have Rick n morty without Rick?!.... Or morty

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    Replies
    1. adventures of Space Beth!

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    2. Yeah! Better to keep a domestic abuser on the cast! 🙄

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    3. I mean as long as he doesn’t beat anyone on the show why should that effect his work performance and how do you know he wasn’t defending himself? Dude hasn’t even gone to trial and he is already guilty.

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    4. Wow. So you have no problem with domestic violence. Wow

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    5. sounds like you’re going ahead with snap judgments.

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    6. cast someone else..

      https://twitter.com/BriannaWu/status/1618071367940988928?t=llFdq7Eg12nxkbzt4B-pxQ&s=19

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    7. wow, sarcasm has no effect on you

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    8. ughhh she's the wooorstttt

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    9. I mean, it's his show 🤷🏼‍♀️

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    10. Yeah, people are already planning his execution and he hasn’t even had his day in court yet.

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    11. white, black, yellow, purple, doesn’t matter the color or race. We’re all allowed due process as Americans.

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    12. True. But due process doesn’t count for your job. And the courts get things wrong sometimes. Do you think OJ is innocent?

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  19. They probably have enough of his digital voice and inflection etc and with AI don’t really need to recast.

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  20. RIP Rick n Morty series..

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  21. Replies
    1. soooo many people can do these voices

      https://twitter.com/BriannaWu/status/1618071367940988928?t=llFdq7Eg12nxkbzt4B-pxQ&s=19

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    2. yeah but they probably won’t get anybody that good

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    3. Family Guy recast Cleveland with a YouTuber who does an absolutely spot-on impression of the original voice. The same could happen here.

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    4.  well I’ve got my fingers crossed

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    5. I mean, the dude above is a car salesman and, if offered, may take it...

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  22. Hope it doesn’t wreck the show.

    https://giphy.com/gifs/90s-mtv-mmpwDy3M42rf2

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    Replies
    1. I was thinking the same exact thing. Another cartoon classic is about to go wayyyyyyyyy down hill.

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  23. I predict it will end by the 8th season

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  24. That’s the end of Rick and Morty

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  25. can’t wait for the final season

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  26. I couldn't stand this show... I'm glad to see it go lol

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  27. i am not surprised!!!

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  28. They need to get that kid from tiktok that sounds just like him lol

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  29. I saw! I wonder if Solar Opposites will be next.

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  30. “Innocent until accused”. Time to find another universe.

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  31. maybe wait until the evidence is presented before passing judgment?

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  32. In other words it’s over

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  33. We don't like him for his domestic violence, we like him for his art, why can't we like something and not relate it to his personal life. Ffs. Rip rick and morty for sure. It just won't be the same thing at all.

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    Replies
    1. except for him making millions as a result of doing his “art”….

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    2. he still deserves the money. It's not like he gets money for having fights. Sure his personal life has alot of wrongs, but his art is amazing and it just can't be the same thing once they are out of it. It's only us that miss out. At worst he will get a early retirement and drinks on a beach somewhere with some beuatiful women who really like money.

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    3. So domestic abuse doesn’t bother you. Got it.

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    4. He probably exhibited other "qualities" along the way that made this decision easier for Adult Swim. Some of his other partnerships are ending as well.

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    5. it does, but the show doesn't promote domestic violence. Neither did his characters. Pickle Rick doesn't deserve this kind of disrespect. It's his personal life. He lost his sensible side, possibly a side effect from mental health, we don't know what happened, all I'm saying is why do people have to ruin a favorite show of millions because of there personal feelings towards a personal problem the guy is most definitely not proud of.

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    6. This is clearly a modern day social networking cancel culture event.
      It's the modern day equivalent to hanging people in front of a crowd in the middle of town and your all the people watching and it's sad you don't have something better to put your energy into. Youd rather watch someone hang and throw your phecies at them.
      Slowly making the world worse every day you keep adding to the hate crowds. Mind your own buisness.
      We have a law and judiciary system that actually seems to be working if you havnt heard he's already gone to court.

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    7. so good enough art means you arent responsible for your actions anymore?

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    8. if you read the article it says he has done his first court appearance so like any man that does the wrong thing he's already been to court and has to go back to see what his charges are and do so accordingly. If a tradesmen or office worker had done the same thing they still get to keep there personal life separate and return to there job without prejudice.
      But because thus man's a genius creator, you think he should also have his job and career ruined. But the common man can do the same and go back to his job?
      Making extra rules on top of rules that already exist.
      Changing his rules Halfway through the game.

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    9. Private businesses can do what they want Karen 🙄

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    10. I mean he was also caught talking to 16 year old girls, and he basically said to catch a predator was stupid in a podcast because those girls are “developed”. It’s not just the DV. Can’t defend him, and I love Rick and Morty.

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    11. What a thoroughly awful take. Did you miss the day at Kindergarden when they taught you to be a good person?

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    12. Won't anyone think of the poor, poor men?!??!?!?

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    13. “phecies.” 🤣

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  34. I assume they can digitally make it sound close

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  35. Cancel culture strikes again... no longer 'innocent until proven guilty.'

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    Replies
    1. Hardly. His employer gets to decide who they want to keep on staff and who they don’t. He was arrested a full two years ago and they didn’t fire him then. When he was dismissed from the show, he resigned from other positions himself.

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    2. pretty sure it's all you conservatives that keep pushing for Right to Work laws. That means a company can fire you for whatever reason they want. Sucks doesn't it?

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  36. https://giphy.com/gifs/rickandmorty-season-2-adult-swim-rick-and-morty-VHrSW9jIYrlat3PwIB

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  37. https://giphy.com/gifs/the-young-pope-candidimg18521-fDbzXb6Cv5L56

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  38. https://media1.tenor.co/images/ee7c654d7a57405845eb1ce939ab784d/tenor.gif?c=VjFfZmFjZWJvb2tfd2ViY29tbWVudHM&itemid=22321846

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  39. No more adult swim for me!!!!!!!!!

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  40. Aw man! That sucks!

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  41. R.I.P. Rick and morty

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  42. go through enough people, likely enthusiastic impersonators and you'll eventually find the copy and paste.
    Aside from that they still have Dan Harmon as a creator, so I'm confident the series can continue

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  43. Yeah it will continue to decline like it has the last two years.

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  44. so basically No more R&M. the most recent season was pretty lame sadly. So I guess we know where this goes. 😥

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  45. The End of 'Rick and Morty'...
    https://media1.tenor.co/images/7c2e27af49b8361c210f5736b14a72e9/tenor.gif?c=VjFfZmFjZWJvb2tfd2ViY29tbWVudHM&itemid=10949047

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  46. It takes two to fight, but it's seem that the men are at fault when in reality women are as physical and aggressive

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  47. I guess that's the end of rick and morty.

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  48. And I won't watch it either

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  49. Replies
    1. crapola. I heard they are still gunna continue without him.

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    2. https://www.facebook.com/groups/3190851464340170/permalink/5913906315367991/?mibextid=S66gvF

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    3. This licks though. I didn’t know he did both voices. 💩

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  50. So the show is basicly over now

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  51. Charged Doesent mean convicted , what. Bunch of snow flake cry babys

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  52. …Annddd
    It’s canceled

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  53. It’s funny how many of you are assuming Adult Swim/CN don’t know any more about Harmon and his dealings than you, a random internet person, does.

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  54. Wasn't he found innocent?

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  55. And that's the waaay the news goes!
    https://media1.tenor.co/images/82dae48f6bd11f7035ff316b9b07e0f9/tenor.gif?c=VjFfZmFjZWJvb2tfd2ViY29tbWVudHM&itemid=22732218

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  56. What's so funny about it?

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  57. https://giphy.com/gifs/rickandmorty-season-5-episode-4-rick-and-morty-VMIKmms9LCfrmFI2pl

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  58. Dumped after charges? What happened to innocent until proven guilty? Any one can accuse anyone of anything. Dont forget the cops are there to ruin lives and get a conviction not justice

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  59. At least they're still making the show 👍

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  60. Please, cancel culture, grow up

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  61. Y’all should also add in the fact that he’s a nasty pedo too

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  62. So much for innocent until proven guilty.

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    Replies
    1. dan Harmon and the crew do all the work minus roilands voices for some time now; it’s largely a Matt groening/Simpsons scenario

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    2. This could end up like the Johnny Depp situation again. Companies need to learn to wait until after these trials have concluded.

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  63. things happen 🤷‍♂️

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  64. Justin also did a lot of minor voices on the show. You should google "Justin Roiland minor" to find out more!

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  65. Cue the domestic violence apologists.

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  66. They can't do that . Oh man

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  67. Rick and Morty.. without Rick or Morty.
    Good luck..think you'd have lost a lot less viewership by letting him stay on AT LEAST until an actual guilty verdict. Even after. The fanbase isn't known for their social justice stance or caving to sensitivities so this is going to backfire badly

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  68. Welp dan harmon is rick and morty now. Since dumbasses didnt give him a pass.

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  69. please tell me who is giving Ezra a free pass. I'll wait.

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  70. Nope. I want genuine wife beaters to voice the parts

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  71. Grown folks pissed over a cartoon? Welcome to america.

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  72. Replies
    1. Unless he wins his trial

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    2. he probably will, from the charges it sounds like he got his significant other arrested and then she turned around and said "no it was him!".
      The fact that they originally arrested her already weighs heavily that the cops could have just had it right the first time when they arrested her.
      I think he will be found not guilty, that's just my intuition. Even tho there is very little too go on.

      Delete
  73. Hmmm let’s see who he donated to

    https://www.opensecrets.org/donor-lookup/results?name=Justin%20roiland

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  74. What does his crude adult cartoon have to do with his domestic violence relationship? I don’t get it. Yes, he should do domestic violence courses, get some meds maybe, and some counseling, but why does that matter to Adult Swim that much?

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    Replies
    1. They’re progressive just like any other entertainment company. He’s officially cancelled.

      And no, the show won’t be the same.

      Delete
    2. course? You know they do next to nothing, therapy and jail to keep the victims safe

      Delete
  75. 😂 Rick and morty are copyrighted adult swim can’t use the characters or the voices without roilands legal consent

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  76. Really? He's pleaded not guilty and the trial hasn't even started yet. Seems premature.

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  77. so rick and morty is dead then. thats what youre saying. without his voice, there is no rick and morty.

    all for some “allegations”.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. he plead guilty. theres a big difference

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    2. defending abusers is cool

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    3. go ahead and laugh with your complete ignorance on how the justice system works. pleading guilty is the same as when someone “settles” a lawsuit. it doesnt mean they are guilty, often. it means they want it to be over with and struck a bargain.

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    4. passing judgement on someone without even knowing the evidence for yourself and knowing absolutely nothing about the situation is even cooler, you sheep.

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    5. why don’t you go home and be really nice to your wife, woman-hater

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    6. im a woman hater for saying that i wont judge *someone* unless i personally have seen the evidence? it has nothing to do with male or female. if a woman was accused i would say the same thing. i am on the side of the truth, while you are on the side of ignorant bias. it seems to me like you are actually the man-hater (hint: you are) for immediately assuming guilt on the man while knowing nothing of the situation.

      Delete
    7. yea, didnt think youd respond to that one. hopefully you were able to take a look in the mirror afterwards too

      Delete
  78. Why bother. Noones gonna watch that recast garbage on some 2 year old charges from someonelooking for a payday.

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    Replies
    1. criminal charges don’t come with a “payday” for anyone, einstein.

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    2. you're clueless on the case, obviously.

      Delete
  79. He's a pedofile and they found out. Same why Ellen was cancelled. They dont drop the main stars of huge huge shows like those based upon mere allegations of behaviour.

    ReplyDelete
  80. Just cancel the show.

    ReplyDelete

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