TV channel Adult Swim and streaming site Hulu have parted ways with Justin Roiland, the co-creator and voice actor behind the hit animated sitcom Rick and Morty, following accusations of domestic violence against an ex-girlfriend. Roiland, who also worked on Adult Swim’s Solar Opposites and Hulu’s Koala Man, denies the charges and a trial date has yet to be set.
Both Adult Swim and Hulu announced in separate statements that they had ended their association with Roiland, but the shows are expected to continue without him. In a statement, Adult Swim, which is part of the Cartoon Network, said “Rick and Morty will continue. The talented and dedicated crew are hard at work on season seven” and the characters voiced by Roiland would be recast.
Roiland’s gaming company, Squanch Games, also revealed that it had received his resignation earlier this month. A statement from the company said, “The passionate team at Squanch will keep developing games we know our fans will love while continuing to support and improve High On Life.”
In May 2020, Roiland was charged with two counts of domestic battery with corporal injury and false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud, and/or deceit by prosecutors in California, for an incident that allegedly occurred in January of the same year, resulting in a traumatic condition for the woman. Roiland’s lawyer has stated that his client is innocent and is looking forward to clearing his name.
Roiland, who created Rick and Morty with Dan Harmon in 2013, won the Emmy for best animated program in 2018 and 2020. However, regardless of the outcome of the trial, it seems that his association with Adult Swim and Hulu is over, and the future of his other projects remains uncertain.
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