Justin Roiland leaving Rick and Morty in January 2023 was a huge turning point for the popular animated show. He was fired because of accusations of domestic violence and misconduct after his arrest in August 2020.
Even though the charges against him were eventually dropped because there wasn't enough evidence, the whole situation had significant effects on his career. People accused Roiland of inappropriate behavior, including sending explicit messages to underage fans.
Justin Roiland had a huge impact on the show's unique style and humor, wearing many hats as a co-creator, writer, and voice actor. But lately, he hasn't been as involved, making fans wonder about his future with the show. After he got fired, Rick and Morty decided to move on without him.
Why was Justin Roiland fired from Rick and Morty?
In January 2023, Justin Roiland, who co-created Rick and Morty, got fired from the show following some serious allegations of domestic violence and sexual misconduct. NBC News took out a report after doing some digging and finding a disturbing pattern in how Roiland interacted with fans, especially underage ones.
Interviews with eleven women and nonbinary folks revealed many instances where Roiland supposedly had sexually explicit chats, with three of the accusers being just 16 when it started. The report mentions that Roiland often started off these interactions via social media and dating apps, complimenting fans and then steering the conversation toward sexual topics.
This report also mentioned he asked for personal info like age and location and sometimes even wanted explicit photos. There are also claims that he pressured women into sex without their full consent. One of the alleged victims reportedly felt used after getting drunk during a sexual encounter with Roiland and another woman.
NBC News unveiled text messages shared by the alleged victims. In the messages, Roiland called underage girls "jailbait" and made creepy comments about their future sex lives. Even though Newsweek later reported that the felony domestic battery charges against him were dropped because there wasn't enough evidence, his reputation took a huge hit.
In a Variety article, his lawyer called the accusations "false and defamatory." Roiland, who created, wrote, and produced the show, was a major influence on Rick and Morty. He also used to voice the main characters, Rick and Morty.
Which other projects has Justin Roiland been a part of?
In addition to the well-known Rick and Morty, Justin Roiland has worked on various other projects. He is a co-creator of the animated series Solar Opposites, which premiered on Hulu in 2020. In the series, he was the voice of Korvo, an alien who figured out how to live on Earth.
The show received positive reviews, showcasing Roiland's distinctive humor. Roiland has also lent his voice to several other animated series. He portrayed Earl of Lemongrab in Adventure Time, a character known for his abrasive personality, and voiced Blendin Blandin in Gravity Falls and Oscar in Fish Hooks.
In the gaming world, Roiland helped start Squanch Games, which released the first-person shooter High on Life in December 2022. Roiland's influence extends to other media, including projects like The Paloni Show! Halloween Special and Koala Man, further demonstrating his creativity and impact on modern animation and gaming.
You can find Rick and Morty streaming on Netflix now.
