The announcement was met with considerable excitement but also backlash as some fans reacted negatively that Quiñones now had the role instead of Wendee Lee, who originally voiced Yoruichi when the series began back in 2004.

Lee, a seasoned voice actress known for her roles across decades of anime, cartoons, and video games, appeared to conflate support for Quiñones, a newer but successful performer, as an attack against her.

“By stepping aside now I open the door of Access and give opportunity to an actor who can represent Yasutora Sado with the same love and pride and imagination but with more life experience than I have.”

Viz’s decision to bring Lee back comes at a time when other production companies have similarly found themselves facing criticism from fans displeased with the addition of Black cast members.

Hobbits Elijah Wood and Sean Astin spoke out against racist attacks on the Black and Brown actors cast in Amazon’s Rings of Power series.

Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson series, defended Black actress Leah Jeffries when she faced racist abuse for her casting as Annabeth Chase in the Disney adaptation.

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