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Adult Swim cuts ties with scandal-hit Justin Roiland but will continue show, fans say 'cancel Rick and Morty'

Justin Roiland, 42, had been charged with one felony count of domestic battery with corporal injury and one felony count of false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud and/or deceit

ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: Adult Swim has cut ties with ‘Rick and Morty’ co-creator and star Justin Roiland. In a statement posted by the official ‘Rick and Morty’ Twitter account on Tuesday, January 24, the channel wrote, “Adult Swim has ended its association with Justin Roiland. Rick and Morty will continue. The talented and dedicated crew are hard at work on Season 7.”

The announcement comes 12 days after the news broke that Roiland had been charged with one felony count of domestic battery with corporal injury and one felony count of false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud and/or deceit on January 12, 2023, reports EntertainmentWeekly. In a statement earlier this month, Roiland’s attorney T Edward Welbourn said, as quoted by The Guardian, “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.” No trial date has been set, but Roiland, who is required to attend a scheduled hearing on April 27, could face up to seven years in prison if convicted. The 42-year-old show creator, who voiced the sitcom's characters, Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith, was accused of domestic violence by a woman he dated in 2020. 

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Following the announcement that Roiland will no longer be part of 'Rick and Morty', one of many social media users said, "the right move would've been to cancel Rick and Morty and let someone new try their show on Adult Swim." Another said, "Recasting the voice of both Rick and Morty is insane just cancel it." While an individual suggested, "I think they should just cancel rick and morty and bring an actually good show like venture bros back instead. or maybe even greenlight some new stuff?? rick and morty has had its fair share/run its course, im so tired of [as] relying on its popularity."

On the other hand, one debated by saying, "Roiland isn’t convicted yet! WHY this trend of jumping to “cancel” anyone before we know details? PEOPLE make mistakes and have problems. If guilty, then he should make reparations. Give him a chance to make right if it’s possible. What happened to forgiveness?" A user wrote, "What seems sensible to do would be to put it on hold until the outcome of the investigation and then either renew or cancel but Rick and Morty makes them far too much money so better to milk it than leave it be."

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