‘Rick and Morty’s Justin Roiland Fired from Adult Swim Amidst Domestic Violence Charges

Justin Roiland, the co-creator of Rick and Morty, has been dropped by series distributor Adult Swim after he was charged with felony domestic abuse. Despite Roiland’s dismissal from the show and network, Rick and Morty will continue without him, The Hollywood Reporter reports.

Adult Swim confirmed Roiland’s termination in a statement released Tuesday (Jan. 25). Adult Swim/Cartoon Network/Boomerang Senior VP of Communications Marie Moore shared, “Adult Swim has ended its association with Justin Roiland,” per THR.

The official Rick and Morty Twitter account shared a similar statement yesterday, also confirming Roiland would not not be working with Adult Swim, but assuring fans, “Rick and Morty will continue” and noting “The talented and dedicated crew are hard at work on Season 7.”

Roiland’s firing comes as Adult Swim is working on a 70-episode order of Rick and Morty, per THR. Along with his title of co-creator, Roiland also voices two character on the hit series: Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith, both of which will be recast. While Roiland “will always be credited as co-creator,” THR reports, the show will make co-creator Dan Harmon sole showrunner.

Rick and Morty has been renewed by Adult Swim through Season 10.

Roiland also has multiple projects at Hulu, including his series Solar Opposites, which has been renewed for a fifth season, and new show Koala Man, which recently premiered on Jan. 9. A spokesperson for Hulu confirmed to Decider that both shows will continue, but Roiland will not be involved in either.

20th TV Animation and Hulu Originals confirmed that they are no longer involved with Roiland, telling Decider in a statement, “We have ended our association with Justin Roiland.”

The charges against Roiland were first reported earlier this month, when NBC News revealed that the TV creator had been charged in Orange County, Calif. in connection to an incident that occurred in 2020 involving a Jane Doe he had been dating at the time. He pleaded not guilty in 2020, according to NBC News, and his lawyer said Roiland was innocent.

A criminal complaint reported by NBC News states that Roiland has been charged with one felony count of domestic battery with corporal injury and one felony count of false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud and/or deceit.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-799-7233, or text START to 88788.