The Simpsons will no longer use white actors to dub ethnic minority characters, the producers of the long-running animated series announced Friday.

The decision includes a recurring character from the series, launched in 1989 – Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, a grocer of Indian origin voiced in the American version of the show by white actor Hank Azaria.

The character has long been seen as problematic and conveying racist stereotypes. Last January, Azaria announced that, in agreement with producers, he was abandoning the role.“Moving forward, THE SIMPSONS will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters,” Fox Studios said in a statement to AFP.

The change will also affect the character of Dr Hibbert, a black man dubbed by the white actor Harry Shearer who also lends his voice to many other characters on the series – from Homer Simpson’s boss Mr Burns to the chirpy neighbor Ned Flanders.

The announcement came as Mike Henry, the white actor who voices the black character of Cleveland Brown in Family Guy, another animated series produced by Fox, announced on Twitter that he was giving up the role.“It’s been an honor to play Cleveland on Family Guy for 20 years. I love this character, but persons of color should play characters of color. Therefore, I will be stepping down from the role,” he wrote.

Americans are in the midst of a reckoning on systemic racism and discrimination ignited by the killing of George Floyd, an African American man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis on 25 May.

EWN

Bafana Bafana legend Doctor Khumalo is celebrating his birthday today!

We are celebrating with him by taking a look at some of the highlights of his Bafana Bafana career.The Amakhosi assistant coach has been with the club for many years, so it, naturally, came as a shock when the club took time to congratulate Ramahlwe Mphahlele on his PSL award nomination but not wish their icon a happy birthday.

Many fans tweeted the club wishing him, and they responded to several tweets with two peace signs. However, they didn’t tweet or post a message of their own…

Reports: Tshegofatso Pule was a side-chick, her Boyfriend’s Wife is the one who ordered Hitman
According to social media reports, The wife of Tshegofatso Pule’s baby daddy ordered a hitman to kill Tshego.

It is believed the wife has just received an amount of at least 8 million from her Mother’s death and hired a Hitman with an estimated amount of R70 000 to eliminate Tshegofatso Pule as she posed a threat to her Marriage.

Tshegofatso Pule who was 8 months pregnant was found dead hanging on a tree with stab wounds. She was last seen with her baby daddy leaving a flat and she got on a car (which was believed to be a meter taxi), the baby daddy stayed behind.

Somizi is working on a new show and the process has taught him a lesson, well more like a reminder when it comes to industry friends.

The media personality when he began working on a new project, reached out to a few of his industry friends to be a part of his show but the responses he got left him a bit shook.

Somizi in a video posted on Instagram shared how he had to relearn a lesson about self-entitlement and expecting people to be there for him just him was there.

“I’m working on a show and a show needs guests, so I called my people, friends in the industry that I gel with, that I vibe with…friends that I feel that I’ve been there for you, you’ve been there for me at some point,” said Somizi in his video.

The Idols SA judge explained that some of his industry friends when they declined some gave reasons as to why whilst some just said no and the rejection hit a nerve with the star but he had to remind himself no one owes him “shit”.

“Nobody owes anybody sh*t, you are on your own. If somebody decides to support you, big ups, if you decide to be there for somebody…don’t it because you expect them to return the favour.”

Bonang Matheba talks about her future plans.
Image: Via Bonang Matheba Instagram
In light of her 33rd birthday on Thursday, media personality and businesswoman Bonang Matheba has shared how she plans to spend the age she calls the “Jesus Year”, including making a social change and finally moving to America.

In line with the saying, “With age comes great responsibility”, Bonang took to Instagram Live on Thursday to speak about how she plans to add her voice on hard-hitting issues in SA.

Bonang revealed that she was working on a solution that will bring awareness to gender-based violence and the #BlackLivesMatter movement, adding that she believes in doing something to make a change first, before tweeting about it.

“I don’t want to tell you what it is just yet but it will hopefully be a solution to, I think, something all of us in the country have been dealing with …

“I’m not very vocal when it comes to that, like Black Lives Matter and gender-based violence, because I really believe in doing something first before you kind of tweet or you’re actually doing something instead of taking part in hashtags.” Moghel also cleared the air on her move overseas- you know, the one that she’s BEEN planning.

“I was really looking forward to moving to New York … it was supposed to happen this year … but I mean cocoV had other plans for all of us …

“I have something that I can’t tell you today but it’s so amazing. It’s a job that’s a dream come true to me, which will open so many doors and so many channels. I’m really looking forward to that.”