Popular voice actor goes viral after being fired from Disney

Although many actors hope to win an Oscar at some point in their careers, lending their voice to a beloved Disney character is a true honor for many talented actors, but fans are banding together to help the man behind one of their favorite Disney parks experiences.

Disney’s character meet-and-greets are essential to any trip to Disneyland, Walt Disney World Resort, or any other Disney park, but not all of them are the stereotypical furry mascot types. One character interaction in particular is much more interactive, and making it successful requires a whole different set of skills.

Related: Facebook takes over Disneyland and spends $1 billion

Although he was played in the film by Pixar writer and voice actor Andrew Stanton, the role of sea turtle Crush has been passed on to many talented people who make Turtle Talk with Crush possible for countless Disney Park guests. However, one of its biggest players is making headlines after a viral good deed on TikTok and Twitch.

Fans unite to save the sea turtle

Fans of Find Nemo (2003) by Pixar Animation Studios, you’ll surely recognize Crush, the sea turtle who is famous for bobbing and bobbing in the EAC (East Australian Current) in the popular animated film. Anyone can imitate a stereotypical surfer voice, but few actors can dedicate themselves to the role day after day in front of an audience of hundreds of people.

Related: Disney resolves ‘Tiana’ issues following mass evacuation of guests at Magic Kingdom

The artist and streamer Chet Adkins, known as chetter72 in his streamswas a former Disneyland cast member who longtime lent his voice to Crush before his health issues led to his departure from Disney. TikTok creator @pudgykindness, a channel dedicated to promoting kindness and positivity, shared his story in the video below and fans everywhere responded in a big way.

@pudgykindness

chetter72❤️ #hopecore #twitch #streamer

♬ Original sound – KindPenguins

As the stats in the side of the video show, the streamer/former cast member’s story has been seen by thousands of users, and his Twitch channel currently has nearly 300,000 followers and counting. After spending so much time bringing Disney magic to others, it’s really rewarding to see his viewership reflect that same love.

Related: Disney California Adventure’s major transformation is almost complete

Cast members and artists leaving Disney is certainly nothing new; it happens every day. However, the fact that a Disney employee went from the so-called “happiest place on earth” to being dependent on Twitch donations does not reflect well on the parks or the company.

What this says about the Disney Parks

Although Disneyland and Disney World employees are responsible for bringing the parks to life for millions of guests every day, their working and living conditions are anything but magical. When employees work an average of 100 hours to make ends meetit does not cast a good light on their employers.

For decades, Disney has cultivated a magical image with overwhelmingly positive representation, but the mask is quickly beginning to crumble. Atkins’ case is likely not the only one, and there’s no denying that the miraculous support of his fans was a much-needed and well-deserved turning point, but not all former Disney cast members can say the same.

With reports of cast members unionizing and many battling homelessness and other wage issues, the House of Mouse is quickly losing its charm among some of its most vocal supporters. But when fans band together, magical things can still happen.

Related: Is Disney Springs just Downtown Disney with a new name?

Stories like Atkins’s not only underscore that Disney magic can exist beyond the parks and animated films, but also that Disney’s united fan base can create lasting and impactful change. The Walt Disney Company may still be responsible for creating some of our favorite characters, movies, and park attractions, but it’s still a corporation whose primary interest is profit.

Although he no longer surfs the EAC as Pixar’s popular talking turtle at Disneyland, he is still in business and delights his fans by Fourteen days and other popular video games. Fans who want to support Atkins can visit and subscribe to his official Twitch page and Instagram account.

Inside the Magic reached out to Atkins for further comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

Special thanks to Pudgy Penguins for sharing this story with us.

Have you heard this incredible comeback story? Share your thoughts with Inside the Magic in the comments below!