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‘Kermit’ actor fired over “unacceptable business conduct”

Muppet Studio responds to dismissal headlines and says voice actor's dismissal was made in consultation with the Henson family.

Last week, news broke that Steve Whitmire, the longtime puppeteer behind beloved Muppet Kermit the Frog, would no longer be voicing the character he has played since the passing of Jim Henson in 1990.

Now producers the Muppet Studio have issued a statement following recent headlines:

“The role of Kermit the Frog is an iconic one that is beloved by fans and we take our responsibility to protect the integrity of that character very seriously,” a spokesperson said.

“We raised concerns about Steve’s repeated unacceptable business conduct over a period of many years and he consistently failed to address the feedback. The decision to part ways was a difficult one which was made in consultation with the Henson family and has their full support.”

Whitmire, who was originally hired by the Henson family said, “The first issue was that they felt I had been ‘disrespectful’ in being outspoken on character issues with the small group of top creative people during the ABC series.

“I have been outspoken about what’s best for the Muppets since the Muppets came to Disney [2004], but the fact is I have respect for everyone who was involved in the creation of that series for their own particular contributions. At the same time, I also have insight into their limitations with respect to how well they know the Muppets.

“We have been doing these characters for a long, long time and we know them better than anybody. I thought I was aiding to keep it on track, and I think a big reason why the show was canceled (after one season last fall) was because that didn’t happen. I am not saying my notes would have saved it, but I think had they listened more to all of the performers, it would have made a really big difference.”

Source: Hollywood Reporter, Variety

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