Adult Swim Cuts Ties With ‘Rick and Morty’ Co-Creator Justin Roiland As He Faces Domestic Violence Charges

Twelve days after a court hearing revealed that Rick and Morty co-creator and voice actor Justin Roiland faces felony domestic violence charges in connection with a 2020 criminal complaint, Adult Swim announced that it has “ended its association with Justin Roiland,” according to a statement released by a spokesperson of the channel earlier today.

Roiland, 42, has pleaded not guilty to one felony count of domestic battery with corporal injury and one felony count of false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud and/or deceit resulting from an alleged incident in January, 2020 according to the complaint filed by the Orange County District Attorney. 

Adult Swim has announced that Roiland's voice roles as the titular characters in Rick and Morty will be recast, and Roiland will no longer work on the series in any capacity. The show has been renewed through ten total seasons, and Adult Swim fully intends to move forward with its flagship series without Roiland’s involvement. 

No statement has yet been made by Hulu in regards to its animated shows, Solar Opposites, on which Roiland currently serves as a co-creator, executive producer and voice actor, and Koala Man, which features Roiland as a voice actor. 

Roiland will be required to attend a hearing scheduled on April 27th. No trial date has yet been set, and both Roiland and his attorney have maintained Roiland’s innocence – Roiland’s attorney has stated that they “have every expectation that this matter is on course to be dismissed once the District Attorney’s office has completed its methodical review of the evidence.” If convicted, Roiland could face up to seven years in prison.