Cartoon Network/Creative CommonsGreg Cipes, the voice actor behind Beast Boy in Teen Titans Go!, has claimed he was fired by Warner Bros. after sharing his Parkinson’s diagnosis. Now, DC fans are fighting back with a petition to have him reinstated.
Launched in 2013, the animated series is based on DC Comics’ Teen Titans superhero team: Beast Boy, Robin, Cyborg, Raven, and Starfire. Although it’s primarily a kids’ show, there’s plenty of humor and DC references for adults to enjoy too.
Cipes has been the voice behind Beast Boy throughout the show’s nine-season run, as well as taking on the role in the 2003 Teen Titans series. But he’s now told DC influencer Emmanuel Newsome that he’s been “wrongfully terminated.”
In the comments section of an Instagram post, Cipes wrote, “Warner Brothers literally fired me on Valentine’s Day right after I publicly shared my Parkinson’s diagnosis… It’s like a death to me that only the fans can bring back to life.”
Teen Titans Go! petition urges DC show to reinstate Greg Cipes as Beast Boy
Amid the fan backlash to the news, a Change.org petition has been launched to have Cipes reinstated as Garfield Logan, aka Beast Boy.
Newsome – who runs the Gunnverse social media pages – wrote, “Greg Cipes, the irreplaceable voice behind Garfield Logan, has brought so much character and life to Beast Boy for over a decade.
“His portrayal caught the essence of Beast Boy, making him fun, relatable, and incredibly memorable. It simply doesn’t sit right to erase him from the role while keeping the rest of the original cast intact.”
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He goes on to state, “Now, Sam Register, president of WB Animation, has shockingly terminated Greg’s position without fair cause, leaving fans bewildered and upset.
“The decision feels especially wrong because Greg has been consistently bringing his best to this beloved character, contributing significantly to WB’s success with the Teen Titans franchise.”
The call to action urges WB Animation and Sam Register to reconsider their decision and bring Cipes back, helping to “preserve the legacy of a character that has been a source of comfort and happiness for so many.”
Newsome concludes by asking fans to sign the petition. At the time of writing, 187 verified users have signed it, but this number will likely rise in the days to come as the news is still fresh.
Earlier this year, Cipes announced that he’d been diagnosed with early on-set Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement and can cause tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination.
A source close to Teen Titans Go! told Deadline that the role of Beast Boy was in the process of being recast due to “creative differences,” and that Cipes was offered a different role in the superhero show.
Warner Bros. has yet to confirm Cipes’ allegations. For now, fans are sharing their support, with one writing on the petition page, “You can’t just let go of a legend like Greg. We all love Greg and stand for him.”
Another said, “I grew up watching him during his voice acting career for years such as Teen Titans, Ben 10: Alien Force, Young Justice, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2012. He’s the best, let’s have our support #savebeastboy.”
“They can’t just get rid of him,” added a third. “The show wouldn’t be the same without him and it’s fair to say it wouldn’t have been as memorable and popular without the entirety of the cast. He needs to be Beast Boy. He literally is him. No one can replace Greg.”
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