Season Four Of Netflix Comedy Big Mouth Has Wrapped

Season four of hit Netflix sitcom Big Mouth has wrapped, according to Deadline.

The animated comedy was renewed for three more seasons (4, 5 and 6) last summer and the fourth season is due to drop on the streaming service sometime this Autumn.

Netflix

The upcoming season will be the last in which Jenny Slate will voice Missy. The actor, who has voiced the black character since the show began, announced her departure in a statement on Instagram in which she said 'black characters on an animated show should be played by black people'.

She said: "At the start of the show, I reasoned with myself that it was permissible for me to play 'Missy' because her mom is Jewish and white - as am I. But 'Missy' is also black, and black characters on an animated show should be played by black people.

"I acknowledge how my original reasoning was flawed, that it existed as an example of white privilege and unjust allowances made with a system of societal white supremacy and that in me playing 'Missy', I was engaging in an act of erasure of black people.

"Ending my portrayal of 'Missy' is one step in a life-long process of uncovering the racism in my actions."

Nick Kroll, co-creator of Big Mouth, subsequently shared a statement on Twitter on behalf of himself and fellow creators Andrew Goldberg, Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett, stating that they 'wholeheartedly agree' with Slate's decision, apologising to fans for their 'original decision to cast a white actor to voice a biracial character'.

The statement read: "After thoughtful discussion with us and our black collaborators, Jenny Slate has decided, and we wholeheartedly agree, that Missy on Big Mouth should be voiced by a black actor.

"We sincerely apologise for and regret our original decision to cast a white actor to play a biracial character. We made a mistake, took our privilege for granted, and we are working hard to do better moving forward.

"We are proud of the representation that Missy has offered cerebral, sensitive women of colour, and we plan to continue that representation and further grow Missy's character as we recast a new black actor to play her."

A black actor will now be cast in the role for seasons five and six.

Topics: TV and Film, Netflix

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey