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Networks Cut Ties With 'Rick And Morty' Co-Creator Justin Roiland After Domestic Violence Charges
Justin Roiland, who co-created the popular Adult Swim series "Rick and Morty," has been accused of inflicting “corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition” upon a woman he was dating in January 2020, leading to the criminal charges against him.
Update, March 23, 2023: Orange County prosecutors have dropped the domestic violence charges against Justin Roiland, citing a "lack of sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Networks are cutting ties with Justin Roiland, the co-creator of animated sci-fi sitcoms “Rick and Morty” and “Solar Opposites,” after the 42-year-old appeared in court earlier this month on felony domestic violence charges.
Adult Swim, the nighttime programming block that airs on Cartoon Network, was the first to announce Tuesday on Twitter that Roiland would no longer be associated with its popular series “Rick and Morty.”
“Adult Swim has ended its association with Justin Roiland,” the post stated. “Rick and Morty will continue. The talented and dedicated crew are hard at work on season 7.”
Roiland not only created the popular animated series with Dan Harmon but also voiced the show’s titular characters.
Marie Moore, the senior vice president of communications at Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns the Cartoon Network, told NBC News that the roles will now be recast.
After making the announcement, others soon followed suit. Squanch Games, a video game company co-founded by Roiland in 2016, announced Tuesday that the animator had resigned from the company.
"On January 16, 2023, Squanch games received Justin Roiland's resignation," the company confirmed on Twitter while assuring fans they will “keep developing games we know our fans will love.”
Then on Wednesday, Hulu announced it was also ending its relationship with Roiland, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Roiland co-created the streaming service’s series “Solar Opposites” and served as an executive producer and voice actor on the new series “Koala Man.” Both shows will continue in his absence.
Disney’s 20th Television Animation, which produces both series, also terminated their overall deal with Roiland.
Roiland appeared in court earlier this month in Orange County, California, on felony charges of domestic battery with corporal injury and false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud and/or deceit in connection with an alleged incident that took place on Jan. 19, 2020.
Roiland has been accused of inflicting “corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition” upon a woman he was dating at the time in Orange County, according to warrant obtained by Oxygen.com.
Other details of the case, including the police report and affidavit, connected to the alleged incident have been sealed as the case against Roiland proceeds in court, NBC News reports.
Roiland was arrested on the charges in August of 2020 and later released on a $50,000 bond, according to an earlier report from the news network.
Roiland’s attorney T. Edward Welbourn told Oxygen.com in a statement earlier this month that his client is innocent of the charges.
“It is hard to overstate how inaccurate the recent media coverage of this situation has been. To be clear, not only is Justin innocent but we also have every expectation that this matter is on course to be dismissed once the District Attorney’s office has completed its methodical review of the evidence,” Welbourn said. “We look forward to clearing Justin’s name and helping him move forward as swiftly as possible.”
His next court appearance is scheduled for April 27.
“Rick and Morty” has been a popular fixture on Adult Swim since it premiered in December of 2013. The show won Outstanding Animated Program Emmy Awards in both 2018 and 2020.
“Solar Opposites” premiered in 2020.
