OT VII, suckers!
Don't have a cow, man, Xenu will make things all better! Some southern California residents may have answered their phone recently and received a friendly phone call from Bart Simpson…who happens to be promoting an upcoming Scientology event. Say what?
Voice actor Nancy Cartwright, who performs Bart's voice for The Simpsons, recorded the message for Hollywood's Scientology headquarters, and used Bart's voice to pitch the gathering.
Cartwright, a practicing Scientologist, opens the message with "Hey, what's happening man, this is Bart Simpson!" followed by Bart's mischievous laugh. Cartwright then pulls a 180 saying that it's actually her and that she's "now auditing on new OT VII" (which, according to Wikipedia, means that "one solo audits at home daily. This is a lengthy level, requiring a considerable amount of time to complete. It is the final pre-OT level, and culminates in attainment of the state of cause over life." Hope that helps.) and has been asked to speak at an upcoming event.
Cartwright later goes back into Bart voice and gives more details about the event. (full message is below in video)
Simpsons producer Al Jean has responded to Cartwright's message with the following: "This is not authorized by us. The Simpsons does not, and never has, endorsed any religion, philosophy or system of beliefs any more profound than Butterfinger bars."
This may seem like a harmless stunt, but it could land Cartwright in trouble, as the use of Bart's voice to promote a Scientology event (or any non-Simpsons event for that matter) is likely a breach of contract.
Comments (28)
So now they're manipulating the most successful TV show of all time, great...i guess this rules out any Simpsons scientology episode like South Park did the huh
Don't really know what to think of this. At all. Scientology seems pretty scary to me. Could I be wrong? Maybe. I don't know enough to say anything.
Damn you Scientology! *Waves fist in the air*. I never understood that religion...
scientology=cult....look what it has done to tom cruise
We know she can't get fired, but I don't think it's worth risking it anyway. She didn't have to use Bart's voice, she could have done it as herself from the start. It would've had the same effect (or almost) and she wouldn't be in trouble at all. I guess it was to get people's attention, but that's just wrong, Bart simpson has absolutely nothing to do with scientology
Heresy! Sucks that they can't fire her without canceling the show. They should sue the "church" for copyright infringement. Wouldn't that be ironic? Sue-entology getting sued.
Too bad Bart's voice is so distinctive, else pink slip her goodbye
UH...is it me or are these stories getting weirder?
UH...is it me or are these stories getting weirder?
Ooooooh! Someone's in troooooouuuuubbble. lol
I guess this religion won't quit until it warps the mind of every cool celebrity. Get out now Cartwright!
Oh Nancy, Nancy, Nancy... why besmirch the image of one of America's most beloved cartoon characters to promote that BS cult?!
Not a smart move. Corporations are notorious for throwing out the actor and the baby with the bathwater in order to protect what they consider their own, which would be the likeness of Bart Simpson. If she's sold her voice over to them, she's probably out-of-luck for life. Whatever the religion she's called to (freedom to do so for all here), she's overstepped some legal bounds, and maybe this is the year the show folds.
Kind of pitiful. I'd love to be in the room with the FOX executives when they discuss authorized usage of network owned 'IP".
Stupid on her part.
glad it is not authorized
This sounds so stupid. What is going on here?
Probably the same thing they give all the members of that crazy cult to make them do every stupid thing they want them to. The same thing that apprenlty rotted Tom Cruise's brain. :)
what was she drinking when she agreed to do this?
Well, actually, the show has focused more and more on Homer over the years so they could easily work around Bart (or at least anything where he has to speak) for a good while so maybe a suspention (without pay, that way she won't have money to give to her 'church'), maybe that will teach her.
Fox owns her voice and her soul.
She's a jerk and a nutcase given her religious affiliation. She knows she's virtually irreplaceable so she pulled this stunt I wish they could easily fire her.
Well, at this point she would be hard to replace, I doubt ANYONE could do Bart the way she does.
That said it a stupid thing for her to do and she should be called on the carpet over it.
Maybe some kind of fine or an extended story where Bart loses his voice would help.
They should find someone else to do his voice... That's the great thing about voices... You can find a person who can do that same voice fairly close.
Don't have a thetan, man!
yeah but otoh they're between a rock and a hard place. they can't really ostracise her since they need her... don't they?
FAIL
I can't imagine the producers are very happy with her. Unauthorized endorsements.