The voice actor for X-Men ’97’s Morph character, J.P. Karliak is a radical activist and founder of Queer Vox. This revelation comes as The Walt Disney Company, the parent company of Marvel Animation, which is producing X-Men ’97, is the subject of an EEOC complaint alleging it has engaged in discriminatory racial and sexual hiring prices.
X-MEN ’97, exclusively on Disney+. © 2024 MARVEL.
As reported by Fandom Pulse, Karliak is the founder of the radical activist organization Queer Vox, who’s mission is to provide “training and professional support for LGBTQIA+ voice actors in the entertainment industry while advocating for equitable opportunities and authentic representation in voice performance work.”
The organization’s website goes on to state that it works “with casting agencies and industry professionals to encourage authentic representation of LGBTQIA+ characters in voice acting and identify equitable and diverse employment opportunities.”
It adds that it provides “professional voiceover classes through the Queer Vox Academy addressing topics from animation and video games to home studios and gender-affirming vocal work.”
Finally, it maintains “an active free directory of LGBTQIA+ VO talent accessible to casting directors and agents.”
X-Men ’97 logo
READ: ‘X-Men ’97’ To Embrace Evil Transgender Ideology By Describing Morph As “Non-Binary”
In an interview with USC Today back in 2022, Karliak explained why he created the organization, “We’ve all seen movies with cisgender and straight actors portraying queer roles competently or very well. But they are effectively depriving a queer person of making a living in this industry and earning wealth telling their own stories.”
He then shared, “I wanted to fling the door open and be like, ‘Now’s the time.'”
Wolverine (voiced by Cal Dodd) and Gambit (voiced by AJ LoCascio) in Marvel Animation’s X-MEN ’97. Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 MARVEL.
This information comes following the release of the X-Men ’97 trailer and an interview with showrunner Beau DeMayo in Empire Magazine.
Empire Magazine’s April 2024 magazine claims that the character of Morph is now the made-up sex “non-binary.” The outlet’s Helen O’Hara shared, “The death of shapeshifter Morph in the original animated series (it didn’t stick, obviously) was shocking for young viewers, and it stuck with DeMayo.”
DeMayo then added, “He really set the stakes and he had a very interesting relationship with the team because of trauma.”
O’Hara then asserted, “This is a lighter take on the character, who is nonbinary and has an interesting buddy relationship with Wolverine. The character’s past with Mister Sinister, the show’s villain could also come into play.”
(L-R): Beast (voiced by George Buza), Wolverine (voiced by Cal Dodd), Morph (voiced by JP Karliak), Bishop (voiced by Isaac Robinson-Smith), Rogue (voiced by Lenore Zann), Gambit (voiced by AJ LoCascio), Storm (voiced by Alison Sealy-Smith), Cyclops (voiced by Ray Chase) in Marvel Animation’s X-MEN ’97. Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 MARVEL.
READ: X-Men ’97 Showrunner Confirms Show Embraced Woke Casting
This was not a surprising revelation, but appeared to confirm speculation based on DeMayo’s comments he made at San Diego Comic-Con back in 2022.
At the time, he introduced Morph saying, “Morph decided to show a little bit of a different side to themselves this season. We’re going to go with the changeling look.”
DeMayo made it clear to use “themselves” rather than refer to him as a male.
Not only did DeMayo describe Morph using plural pronouns for a male, in March 2023, he made it clear the entire story of the show was informed by his own personal identity of being a black, gay man.
DeMayo said, “Came up with a pitch, pitched it to Kevin Feige and, you know, him and Brad [Winderbaum] could not have been more supportive and also just encouraging to make sure we got it right.”
“I think one of my favorite parts was like they were truly interested in like what my experience as a black gay man was and how it was going to inform the story we were telling. And that to them was like that is how we’re going to make this authentic,” he continued.
READ: Rumor: Marvel’s Initial Idea For X-Men Is To “Focus More On The Female Members Of The Team”
It was also reported by Entertainment Weekly’s Nick Romano that the series used woke quota-based casting to find its voice actors.
Romano wrote, “There are many reasons behind the recastings, DeMayo explains, that range from more authentic representation (Court recognizes that voicing an Asian character like Jubilee as a Canadian actress in the ’90s was a product of its time) to vocal intonations.”
Storm (voiced by Alison Sealy-Smith) in Marvel Animation’s X-MEN ’97. Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 MARVEL.
All of this comes as The Walt Disney Company faces an EEOC complaint alleging that it discriminated based on race, sex, color, and sexual orientation.
The complaint, filed by America First Legal, states “We write pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1601.6(a), as an “organization … request[ing] the issuance of a Commissioner charge for an inquiry into individual or systemic discrimination,” related to the illegal employment practices of The Walt Disney Company and its subsidiaries (“Disney”) in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2.”
It continues, “An unlawful employment practice is established when the evidence demonstrates that race, color, religion, sex, or national origin is a motivating factor for any employment practice. 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(m). Here, Disney admits and affirms that it knowingly and intentionally uses race, color, sex, or national origin as motivating factors in its employment practices.”
The complaint then provides numerous examples of evidence to support its claim including the company’s own Inclusion Standards.
ABC Entertainment Inclusion Standards
What do you make of this new information about the voice actor behind Morph?
NEXT: America is Over the MCU: Fantastic 4 and X-Men Lost Their Audience Years Ago
