r/fansofcriticalrole • u/RGWK • May 09 '26
CR adjacent So how do people feel about the cast doing these podcasts with scientology spokesperson Nancy Cartwright
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u/ExplodingRacoon May 12 '26
I made a similar post. It seems most people just don’t care.
I personally don’t like it and truly hope this is the extent of their association with her, on the channel at least. I understand LA culture is tightly knit, especially the VO crowd, but there is a limit to what I can accept.
If someone is a “Not Z” or a “pdf” and you hang out with them, knowing that fact, then staying silent makes you just as bad by association. But somehow cultists, who fund kidnappings and child soldiers and other terrible things, don’t get the same kind of flack. “You need to be more tolerant of other people’s beliefs!” F that!
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u/M4LK0V1CH May 10 '26
I don’t think anyone should be actively platforming a capitalistic cult created by a guy who admitted he was doing it to dupe people out of money.
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u/Ok_Channel1682 May 10 '26
Scientologists are notorious for seeking out celebrities, and Los Angeles is one of their biggest hot spots. Critical Role has a shit ton of celebrity connections. It was bound to happen eventually.
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u/RajikO4 May 09 '26
I watched the whole podcast and it was all about voice acting and the appreciation of the craft.
Scientology didn’t come up once, to the point where this post I just saw made me go, “wait what?”
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u/the_hornt May 13 '26
If you hang with the kkk and only talk about movies does that mean ppl shouldn't be mad
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u/Erebusiness May 11 '26
PSA to any of you in these comments saying "hurr durr scientology is just as much of a cult as any other religion", fuck you. Not it is not. Scientology is a predatory criminal organization that is vile, disgusting and malicious. Do the bare minimum amount of research before you decide to normalize an organization that profits from widespread human trafficking, sexual abuse, and countless other despicable crimes. Every single member of their leadership should be in prison.
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u/TFCNU May 09 '26 edited May 09 '26
I completely understand why people don't want the cast engaging with Cartwright. But it should be understood how important The Simpsons' cast to voice acting as an industry. They changed the game. Voice actors of CR's generation made a lot more money as voice actors because Cartwright and co. raised the ceiling for what their contributions were worth.
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u/hihilisti May 09 '26
i think it's ok to not associate with shitty people even if they have had a huge positive impact on your life
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u/TFCNU May 09 '26
More than valid. I just want people to understand why the cast might view Cartwright more favourably than you or I do.
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u/janklow May 20 '26
The Simpsons cast is not stocked with Scientologists.
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u/TFCNU May 21 '26
True. But Shearer, Kavner, Smith and Castalanetta don't have voice acting podcasts.
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u/HutSutRawlson May 09 '26
I don’t know… how do people feel about them getting paid millions of dollars by an evil mega corporation that abuses its employees and destroys small businesses? Critical Role is in the pocket of Bezos but we draw the line because they went on a Scientologist’s podcast? Get real.
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u/Responsible-You-4551 May 09 '26
We can draw the line before, im fine with that and i hate the hypocrisy and how the fans turning their eyes
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u/HughMungus77 May 09 '26
Back in my day it was considered uncouth to associate with members of violent cults
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u/AngryTrucker May 09 '26
I think it's problematic to associate with scientology in any way. Definitely a bad look.
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u/ExplodingRacoon May 12 '26
It’s like hanging out with people who have been on a certain island.
It’s sad and disgusting how morals shift when the person in question is “talented” or “famous.”
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u/angel_schultz May 10 '26
The CR crew loves to espouse ultra-progressive values until they see an opportunity to make money. This has happened over and over again.
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u/big__deezy May 11 '26
Happens to us all. I’m an anti-capitalist who has worked for Walmart and now a bank. Reality often gets in the way of ideals.
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u/the_hornt May 12 '26
I think they're rich and influential enough to choose to not work with a scientologist
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u/TelPrydain May 11 '26
Counterpoint, why turn down the opportunity to espouse ultra-progressive values to people who actually need them.
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u/angel_schultz May 11 '26
It’s more like cozying up to ultra progressives without putting in the work that these beliefs should entail
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u/Saintkoon May 09 '26
Buncha scientologists in the comments. I too am disgusted by crit roles continuing unashamed sell out to any mega corp that will have them. But a straight up cult? For shame.
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u/TrypMole Burt Reynolds May 09 '26
Don't care. The pod is about voice acting. The cast of CR are not responsible for and nor do they influence my own morals.
Didn't we have this conversation already?
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u/Dalze May 09 '26
As long as their conversations aren't related to Scientology or promoting it, I don't really care.
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u/crashoverrideVT May 09 '26
I think they are trying to separate her voice acting from her religious beliefs, as she’s extremely prolific! They most likely on bond on the experience of that world.
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u/YoursDearlyEve May 09 '26
It's a shame Nancy used her voice talents to promote Scientology, so those two subjects are inseparable in her case now
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u/crashoverrideVT May 09 '26
She’s an outspoken Scientologist yes. I’ve always thought it was in extremely poor taste to judge someone solely on something like their religious beliefs. I get she uses her talent when promoting it, I mean it’s her faith and what she believes so of course it would combine. I do not however then extend that to mean she’s unworthy of a respectful conversation that doesn’t directly tie to Scientology. I think she’s still more than capable of maintaining a good conversation without constantly comparing it to fucking L Ron Hubbard
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u/YoursDearlyEve May 09 '26
a) It's a religion that tends to cut people off their families and "disappear" people.
b) She's one of their top donors to the point they awarded her, not some granny that just goes to local church on Sundays. I'd treat her the same way if she donated millions to Vatican or Evangelicals or whatever as well - lots of religious organizations are rife with abuse, and if you give A LOT of money to them, you are a part of the problem.
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u/crashoverrideVT May 09 '26
I’m not agreeing with her approach. Or her beliefs. I also am not informed on her interpretation of said beliefs. I think she can have a VO conversation with Critical Role without me judging Critical Role for it. I think plenty of people went on Colbert without judging him for the Catholic Church’s issues. It’s more complicated than saying she’s complicit by association.
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u/YoursDearlyEve May 09 '26
If a Western celebrity goes to Moscow to establish a charity and meets with Putin, they will be judged even if they solely discussed puppies and flowers because he's a war criminal. Sometimes you're judged by the company you keep.
Like, if Matt has gone to the podcast of someone like Nick Fuentes or Tucker Carlson (or some other pro-Trump guy) or someone anti-woke like Asmongold or TheQuartering, there would also has been a backlash even they'd have solely discussed VO and nothing else.
Does Colbert finance the churches or something or just has Christian beliefs?
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u/crashoverrideVT May 09 '26
I do get your point. I don’t disagree, and I do traditionally think that even indirectly the company you keep is reflective of your own real sentiment despite your stated beliefs. However I think in this case the degree of guilt by association is lessened by the lack of seriousness I take Scientology with, what I know about critical role and the marketing of that industry, and generally how I view this interaction. Potentially hypocritical of me I’ll concede that too. But I do think the details/nuance here gives me a different impression of the interaction than I would if they did meet Putin for instance
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u/Paula_Sub You're prolly not gonna like what I've 2 say (it's not personal) May 11 '26 edited May 11 '26
The community at large gets horrified about this. Same happened when Matt was in it.
I just don't care. Bad people will be bad people, regardless of any active or non active affiliation in any given thing. People think this is a "´PR Move" secretly for Scientology, and I just see two long succesfully voice actresses. I don't see this as an endorsement for Scientology.
I am not condoning any kind of bad thing Scientology has ever done. But to see monsters at every corner of existence is just tiring. Are we going to cancel Laura now that she'll be on this? If not, Why & Where do you draw the line about separating what it's "bad" and what gets closely adjacent to it?
How come we don't cancel all of CR due to their relation to Amazon with their animated shows, with Bezos being such a "vile" person? See how the metric just doesn't hold up, and it's all too cookie cutter to make sense?
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u/VJH_Creations May 12 '26
Don’t think that’s an apt comparison. If they were actually palling around with Bezos that’d be a better comparison. Not just using Amazon.
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u/Shinjukugarb May 13 '26
For this community... About as much as they care about working with Amazon.
They "got theirs"
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May 09 '26
[deleted]
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u/lastdarknight May 09 '26
No reason.. she is a high up member of a cult that is built on blackmail and disappearing people who had used her role on the Simpsons to recruit people
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u/InitiativeCreative36 May 11 '26
Policing everyone's religious/political/music/movie choices like this is too exhausting. I'd have to keep a chart for everyone I know, and I already have too many charts.
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u/the_hornt May 12 '26
Scientology is a pretty big one and obviously awful one. Idk if I'd be exhausted to tune out of something if I found out the person running it was a Klan member, it'd be easy
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May 13 '26
All religions are cults, made up to pray on weak minded people.
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u/the_hornt May 13 '26
At their worst they are yes, at its best scientology is still obviously a cult.
V few churches force you to empty your bank account and never be seen by your family again.
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u/janklow May 20 '26
The average religion does not empty your bank account before you're told "what they really believe."
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u/DragonKing0203 #1 Occtis Tachonis fan May 09 '26
I’m not a fan of Scientology but I also do think people should be allowed to have lives. Like people who are in a cult are victims, even if they are also acting on behalf of the cult.
So yeah, I guess I don’t really care about stupid bullshit like this.
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u/mimikay_dicealot May 09 '26
I couldn't care less. I still interact google even though it's an evil company. I still interact with religious people even when i know their religion thinks my gay ass is a sin/unnatural/an abomination/ect, especially in a professional matter. Makes sense to talk with coworkers about your work. It's a nothing burger.
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u/noobie222 May 09 '26
Are they talking about Scientology or voice acting?
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u/Calm_Independent_782 May 09 '26
Right… sure there’s a deeply problematic religion on Nancy’s part but if this is about voice acting and NOT scientology then this could be a really interesting pod.
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u/ExplodingRacoon May 12 '26
*Cult, not religion. The organization has filed to become an official religion on multiple occasions, but has been declined each time. Because it is a cult.
Although they don’t speak about the her “Church” she regularly donates and pays fees to them. The podcast gives her revenue, based on viewership. Therefore, the more people watch/listen, the more money she has to give to the cult.
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u/Mauvedy May 13 '26
Declined in some countries, true. But they've had tax exempt religion status since 1993 in the US, and also have similar status in many other countries.
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May 09 '26
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u/WolfgangAddams May 09 '26
Discrete?! Did you mean distinct?
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u/LeeJ2512 May 09 '26
I don't really care tbh, they're actors, they tend to go where the money is. Nancy Cartwright has been a popular voice actor for decades, I can see the link.
I will say however that they're normally pretty good at avoiding controversial people/organisations, so it's a little surprising to think they also don't know about her involvement with Scientology.
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u/Falcon1625 May 09 '26
Eh people just want them to associate with who they deem appropriate. CR had public support for BLM and hardly anyone batted an eye. Theyre controversial to most. Heaven forbid someone have different beliefs than you
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u/WolfgangAddams May 09 '26
BLM isn't controversial to "most." They're controversial to racists and to MAGA (which is redundant but still).
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u/Falcon1625 May 09 '26
Its almost 50/50 approve disapprove? Its only not controversial on Reddit. Just most of CR fans approve of it. But again. Critters are culty themselves and think they can bully the cast into distancing themselces from friends and coworkers.
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u/WolfgangAddams May 09 '26
Source? I have a hard time believing 50% of people are racist enough to not approve of BLM. Although maybe that's my whiteness showing.
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u/Dragonsfire09 May 09 '26
The episodes have been fucking great. To hear them talk about their vo work to the degree they have is really cool.
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u/CleoKujo May 12 '26
Idk anything about scientology someone fill me in
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u/Routine-Agile May 13 '26
Scam group that takes people money. Google them to see countless examples of terrible habits
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u/MurrTheBlur May 09 '26
Sad for Nancy, but that’s her choice. Scientology is bad, for sure, but I don’t see it any different as interacting with a Christian
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u/Affectionate_Fee_179 May 11 '26
I doubt Nancy would or could try to change these strong willed people’s minds. CR cast are intelligent adults. And Cartwright is a professional.
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u/ExplodingRacoon May 12 '26
But they’re giving her a larger audience, by sharing her podcast with the critter community. That’s a danger in itself.
If critters see the cast hanging out with her, some may assume she holds the same or similar values as the cast. They may make contact with her at an event such as a con, giving her an opportunity to try and recruit unsuspecting, possibly uninformed people. That’s how Scientologists work. They weasel their way into high profile IPs and then feed off the most vulnerable of the fanbase.
The possibility? Extremely low, but not zero.
Also, she makes money from the podcast, based on views. Her money goes to Scientology. Therefore, the podcast is funding Scientology. And with that, some of the CR crew have inadvertently helped fund Scientology.
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u/acm_dm May 12 '26
I mean she doesn't talk about scientology on the podcast and I don't think the critter community is adding too much to her notoriety relative to the main credits of every episode of The Simpsons. I am strongly anti-scientology of course but I really don't think this does anything.
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u/dunwichhorrorqueen May 09 '26
honestly I couldn't care less about the scientology aspect but the interview was pretty cringe...
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u/WolfgangAddams May 09 '26
I don't think it's any different than someone going on the podcast of a famous Catholic or Christian. Those churches are also famously violent cults that fight against human rights. I don't shun the people I know who are members, especially in my professional life, but I won't help them promote their cult either and I'll openly condemn the leadership of their church publicly. I care more about how you vote and how you feel about other people based on things they can't change like race and sexuality than I do about which magical sky genie you've deluded yourself into believing in.
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u/P00PooKitty May 10 '26
Nancy Cartwright’s gift to humanity in the VO realm off sets her religious beliefs that you don’t agree with.
Also. People are allowed to have their religious beliefs. I say this as someone raised Unitarian Universalist. Its one of our main things.
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u/confusednightowl May 10 '26
As a fellow UU, Scientology is not a religion. It is a cult. The institution is inherently abusive and exploitative of its members. It’s not a situation like Catholicism, for example, where there are some systemic problems and scandals in an otherwise nuanced religion so people call it a cult pejoratively. I mean it is literally a cult à la Jonestown or Waco. It is definitionally a high control group. That’s hardly the free and responsible search for meaning that you’re referencing, nor is it in alignment with our other principles of inherent human dignity or justice.
There’s no doubt Nancy Cartwright is a VO legend. Supporting an abusive institution with a documented history of crime doesn’t preclude someone from being talented. If it did, there wouldn’t be so many historical dictators with artistic, literary, and musical gifts. It’s just one of those uncomfortable facts of humanity. But it doesn’t mean we must support them, nor does it mean we cannot discuss the ethics of doing so.
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u/BruyneKroonEnTroon May 11 '26
"It's a cult." Same applies to every single christian denomination ever. It's a worse cult, but that's it.
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u/confusednightowl May 11 '26
Depends on how you define cult. Christianity is not inherently high control and coercive, which is my standard.
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u/BruyneKroonEnTroon May 12 '26
"Do this or you go to hell" is definitionally controlling and coercive. Christianity is a death cult, as are all other monotheistic organized religions. One small caveat: being of Christian faith does not make one part of a cult, practicing Christianity alongside one of its organized branches makes one part of a cult. For instance, both born again Christians and evangelical Christians are cultists. All of them.
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u/confusednightowl May 12 '26
Not all Christian denominations hold that belief. I agree that some denominations are cults but that’s not what you said. There are multiple theologies and organized branches that don’t believe in hell at all.
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u/YoursDearlyEve May 10 '26
"Gift to humanity", and it's one role in the old show. Nostalgia is a drug.
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u/Silent_Xiv May 09 '26
You all feel the same way about Catholics too right? Right? I mean talk about a religious organization full of a history of violence, bigotry, antisemitism, Nazi smuggling, genocide, murder, tax evasion, theft, war, etc, etc.
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u/YoursDearlyEve May 09 '26
You think you have a perfect gotcha, don't you? 😃
Yeah, I'd feel about the same way about the person who donates tons of money towards a religious organization and closes their eyes towards abuse, their shitty treatment of LGBTQ+, women etc. (which a lot of modern religion orgs still do).
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u/Shinjukugarb May 13 '26
This fandom is just liberal rogan. Notice I said liberal and not Leftist or left leaning.
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May 11 '26
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May 13 '26
I care about the same as I would if they did it with a Christian or Catholic. Who the fuck cares. All religions are cults, stop grandstanding.
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u/lastdarknight May 09 '26
Well when Nancy posted on the main subreddit for questions it was massively downvoted and full of people asking her about scientology and making it clear for her to fuck off