Ever since news broke that there would be a Futurama revival at Hulu, with a conspicuous lack of conformation about whether John DiMaggio would return as Bender, #bendergate has had fans saying they would not watch without his inclusion. Now, the voice behind the robot is sharing his thoughts on the matter.
DiMaggio tweeted an image with the text, “Hi, I’ve been thinking about everything that’s been going on these past months and just to be clear, | don’t think that only | deserve to be paid more. I think the entire cast does Negotiations are a natural part of working in show business. Everyone has a different strategy & different boundaries. Their ‘price.’ Some accept offers, some hold their ground. Bender is part of my soul & nothing about this is meant to be disrespectful to the fans or my Futurama family. It’s about self-respect. And honestly, being tired of an industry that’s become far too corporate and takes advantage of artist’s time & talent. Look, | wish | could give you every detail so you would understand, but it’s not my place. Thanks again for the love everyone. Still hoping for the best. In the meantime I’ll be in New Orleans shooting Interview With A Vampire for AMC – and very grateful to be! Thanks…”
I think I speak for most Futurama fans and fans of DiMaggio’s work when I say that there is no show without Bender, and no Bender without DiMaggio. He’s part of the central nervous system of the show. Not to mention, as veteran voice actor with countless roles under his belt, DiMaggio should be expected to be paid his value—same as any other actor, and especially one who is such a central part of the brand experience.
This isn’t the first time DiMaggio has interacted with fans about this topic. Back on February 9, he shared some love for all the fans who supported him in the negotiations: “Thanks for the concern and the props, everyone. I really appreciate it. Don’t worry, I’ll keep you posted, but until then… CHEESE IT! #bendergate”
The industry is not kind to its workers, and while boycotts have mixed results these days, if fans continue to back voice actors (not just DiMaggio, but voice actors as an industry), it will let the powers that be know that we appreciate these people—as talent, as actors, and as extensions of the characters we know and love.
DiMaggio was much more graceful than I, but I can say that when it comes to the way that industries treat their workers across the board—they can kiss a shiny metal ass.
(image: Fox)
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