Though DiMaggio interacted with fans on social media saying they would miss him from the show, he did not make a full statement about the reboot when the news first broke.
One week later, on February 17, DiMaggio took to Twitter to make his statement about why he was not coming back to Futurama. Here is what that statement said, and what the voice actor had previously said about what he has been calling “Bendergate.”
What John DiMaggio Has Said About the Futurama Reboot
In a statement posted to the actor’s Twitter account, DiMaggio wrote: “Hi, I’ve been thinking about everything that’s been going on these past months and just to be clear, I don’t think that only I 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, I wish I 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.”
This came after reports that Hulu (owned by the Walt Disney Company) had offered the same fee to DiMaggio, Billy West (who voices Fry, Zoidberg and Prof. Farnsworth) and Katey Sagal (Leela), with the latter two accepting it and the former turning it down.
On February 10, when news broke that Futurama was coming back without the involvement of DiMaggio, the voice actor (whose voice currently appears on Netflix’s Disenchantment), retweeted a number of supportive message from fans, but did not give a full statement.
Among the tweets he shared was one that quoted one of Bender’s most famous phrases. It read: “Without @TheJohnDiMaggio #Futurama & @hulu can bite my metal shiny ass.”
What he did do, however, is tweet: “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.”
He also retweeted a number of stories about the news, adding his own comments. In reaction to a story titled, “‘‘Futurama’ Star John DiMaggio Seems To Be As Livid As Fans Are That He’s Not Returning For The Hulu Revival,” the actor wrote “Livid. That’s how it’s spelled, pally…”
There is still a “desire on both sides” to have the actor return to the role. However, 20th Century Studios were looking to recast the role before the first table read on February 14. Who they found to voice the role, however, has not been announced.
Futurama is coming to Hulu in 2023.
