Steve Whitmire [Kermit The Frog] Fired For ''Unacceptable Buisness Conduct''

[ZariusTwo]

http://ew.com/tv/2017/07/17/kermit-t...hitmire-fired/

“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 for the Muppets Studio said in a statement to EW. “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.”

Here's what Cheryl Henson had to say about him, and it is not pleasant

https://www.reddit.com/r/Muppets/com...mires_take_on/

[Vegita-San]

isn't the mouse notorious for treating employees, especially ones at it's parks, badly?

until something comes out, i still side with steve on this one. he's worked with disney for at least 5 years and now all of a sudden they pull the plug.

something isn't adding up.

[Andrew NDB]

Hopefully he's not going down like Kevin Clash, as a diddler or something.

[Vegita-San]

i'm really hoping it's not something bad or nasty.

but if it's honestly disney trying to tarnish the muppets by making thme updated and hip like that failed tv pilot where they where all nasty to each other...i can see steve not liking that direction.

[Utrommaniac]

I'm pretty sure that's exactly what happened. He protested the changes Disney was making and they weren't having it.

[plastroncafe]

I agree with Cheryl Henson's assessment of Kermit's recent portrayal, which is one of the reasons I stopped watching that new Muppet show.

But I think I'm siding with that redditor who points out that the actor can only do so much with the script.

This is curious. And I'm curious what these business practices are that he's accused of taking part in.

[Andrew NDB]

Are you guys talking about "The Muppets," the show that came out last year? That lasted a whole season. I rather enjoyed it.

[plastroncafe]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Are you guys talking about "The Muppets," the show that came out last year? That lasted a whole season. I rather enjoyed it.

There were parts that were entertaining, but I find moody depressive Kermit insufferable. Much the same way I find moody depressive Superman insufferable.

[Andrew NDB]

I'm sure that was just an initial character arc. He would have returned to "normal" Kermit and it would have felt earned.

[Vegita-San]

sounds to me like whitmire was speaking up as the v oice of the fans who didn't like the changes...and had had enough of disney reign on the muppets and thought it might be worth a risk to get even more vocal, thinking his position was safe.

apparently it wasn't.

that's what I think at any rate
http://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/dis...cid=spartanntp



then i see this...
'Matt Vogel will take over as Kermit the Frog. His first time as the character will be in a "Muppets Thought of the Week" video this week.

"I'm actually responsible for Matt having become a part of the Disney Muppets," Whitmire said.'

i know nothing of matt vogal. any chance he stabbed steve in the back to get even more work? you'd think jerry's characters would be enough.

[Jester]

Not sure what I think. The NY Times had this to say:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/17/a....google.com%2F

[Wildcat]

I'm just kidding around. I didn't watch that show but I immediately thought of those episodes.

[Ninjinister]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Are you guys talking about "The Muppets," the show that came out last year? That lasted a whole season. I rather enjoyed it.

Technically two years ago... canceled last year. But I concur it was clever as hell and actually funnier than any sitcom I've seen in years. And this is coming from someone who hasn't really been a "fan" of the Muppets since he was a kid.

[Vegita-San]

Originally Posted by Jester

Not sure what I think. The NY Times had this to say:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/17/a....google.com%2F

i'm not one to believe a big souless corporation like disney that treats it's employees in parks so badly.

my money is still on whitmire on this one.
and i'm not sure i buy that understudy thing either. There WAS one awards show where a voice other than his was used. it sounded so close to jim, i wasn't sure it wasn't pre taped stuff at first.


could it feel possible he felt threatened by that, knowing people didn't like his kermit cause it sounded so different? sure.

I don't know. I just don't see any of the muppet performers acting the way disney is trying to portray. their description seems more like a disney ceo.

[***First of Two Latin Kings***]

When did Disney acquire the Muppets? I knew they had Star Wars and Marvel...

I wonder if Disney will try to buy TMNT from Nick at some point...

[sdp]

Disney is interested in big franchises, not small ones like TMNT when they already have a huge cast of superheroes to workw ith; Not that Viacom was going to sell them.

The Muppets were bought in the late 90s or early 00's so it's been a while. The current CEO said there wouldn't be any more "major" acquisitions by Disney during his run for CEO, Bob Iger is the current CEO and he bought Pixar, Marvel and then Star Wars all in about 4 years from each other so investors were speculating if in another few years there would be another but he shut that down. Bob Iger has done a lot for Disney and as of now they don't really need to acquire any other company, they're pretty well rounded.

[Vegita-San]

they shouldn't have been allowed to acquire that much atall but that is a different story.

article claims muppets where bought in 2004.

so all this stinks of 'new ceo hired'...he couldn't have gotten so bad in that long a time unless disney was trying to force there way on him.

[sdp]

Originally Posted by Vegita-San

so all this stinks of 'new ceo hired'...he couldn't have gotten so bad in that long a time unless disney was trying to force there way on him.

What?

There isn't a new CEO being hired, what do you mean Disney is being forced on him? The Disney heirs have loved Bob Iger's leadership since he has been in charge as have their share holders. Disney went from being rather irrelevant int he early 00's to a big hit with girls to a big hit with everyone since he has been in power. He has done many things that have changed Disney besides just buying IP.

[ZariusTwo]

Yeah, if you need to look at one universally despised Disney affiliate, look to Marvel's Ike Pearlmutter

[Vegita-San]

Originally Posted by sdp

What?

There isn't a new CEO being hired, what do you mean Disney is being forced on him? The Disney heirs have loved Bob Iger's leadership since he has been in charge as have their share holders. Disney went from being rather irrelevant int he early 00's to a big hit with girls to a big hit with everyone since he has been in power. He has done many things that have changed Disney besides just buying IP.

as in, new direction of the muppets he didn't like. new disney working conditions he didn't like. and maybe he thought he could raise a stink cause his 27 years of loyalty bought him a bit of a safe zone to work in.