The show was the first by MacFarlane where he didn't voice the lead character, but he did provide the voice of several characters. Episodes [6], Cleveland was officially written out of Family Guy during Season 8 before The Cleveland Show was broadcast; however, it had been hinted that he might come back for a visit in the future,[10][11] including the episode "Something, Something, Something, Dark Side", although fantasies and film parodies are generally accepted as non-canon Family Guy episodes. Owner of Cleveland's Deli until the Pilot of The Cleveland ShowTherapist in "Dr. C & The Women"Postal worker from "Take a Letter"Pawtucket Brewery in "Unzipped Code" andFamily Guy. In an explanation posted to Instagram, Slate wrote, Black characters on an animated show should be played by Black people.. In "Blind Ambition", he also used to be an accomplished auctioneer, but was struck in the head by a totem pole, which resulted in his speech being permanently slowed. The network had incredible confidence in the spinoff though that they ordered season 2 before the . In the series finale, "Cleveland Moves Out", Cleveland and his family had to leave Stoolbend and go back to Quahog, with the out of universe, reasons being that The Cleveland Show was cancelled, and the in-universe reasons being that a meteor destroyed his house and he got fired from his job, forcing him and his family What ethnicity is quagmire? On September 27, 2009, The Cleveland Show premiered on Fox. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Joe? She cheated on Cleveland with Quagmire because Clevelands emotionless personality did not provide her the passion she desired. Its up to them and they havent sorted it out yet. Because otherwise, it would have been The Quagmire Show! It can be kind of hard to remember this, now that the show is getting ready to air its 20th season on American TV, but Family Guy was not just unpopular, onceit was canceled.In an alternate . However, even several states away, the Griffins' antics are still seen to cause this event, such as when debris from the missile that Brian, Stewie, Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase destroy happens to fall right on Cleveland's new house in the episode "Spies Reminiscent of Us". Actor, Voice Actor, Screenwriter, Television Producer, Writer, Comedian, Singer. Needless to say, theres a lot of love for Cleveland Brown within the fanbase and among the creatives at Family Guy. , Anything after season 10 is 14+. He graduated college in 2016 with a Bachelor's degree in Media & Public Communication, with a minor in Media Production. The Griffins visit the new neighbors, the Smiths in Cleveland's old house in "Bigfat". Zahir will take over as Cleveland in Season 19, as the show has just been picked up for two more seasons (its 19th and 20th) and episodes are now going into production. Henry, who also voiced the character on the now-canceled The Cleveland Show, made the announcement Friday evening on Twitter, writing that its been an honor to play the character for 20 years. It was a flowchart with one box: Can we find the second most perfect Cleveland and someone who could live up to Mikes standards. While she's not the most well-known name in the industry, most people may . Cleveland Brown Arif Zahir took over the role of Cleveland when Mike Henry stepped down following the 19th season beginning with "LASIK Instinct". Seth MacFarlane But Missy is also Black, and Black characters on an animated show should be played by Black peopleIn my playing Missy, I was engaging in an act of erasure of Black people., Big Mouth creator Nick Kroll added, We sincerely apologize for and regret our original decision to cast a white actor to voice a biracial character. Its been an honor to play Cleveland on Family Guy for 20 years. Cleveland returns to Quahog, but is forbidden from spending time with Peter when their wives get into an argument over parenting. [8] After three years in Los Angeles, Henry returned to Virginia to shoot short comedy films that he wrote and acted in. ", he travels all the way back to Quahog just to see Meg Griffin and new boyfriend Anthony make out. In an alternate universe, Family Guy is a cult animated sitcom that was prematurely canned in its third season back in 2002. Contrary to popular belief, Lacey Chabert (the original Meg) did not quit acting after leaving the role of Meg from Family Guy. He "dies" in "Lois Kills Stewie" when he is shot in the chest by Stewie Griffin. He held out hope that Cleveland might come back for a visit crossovers are cool but added that his place on Family Guy would be taken by another character. The classically hilarious supporting actor who cant sustain his own show is Tim Conway. No decision yet in the long term. The announcement was made on May 3, 2009 before the first season even premiered. The show focused on the Family Guy character Cleveland Brown, who referenced the spin-off at the end of the Family Guy episode "Baby Not on Board". While many may already be aware of this fact, the ability to hear more of Cranston's work could be enough to warrant checking outThe Cleveland Show now. "[21] Prior to the 20th season premiere in 2021, Henry sent a video on Twitter saying that he was "handing the torch" onto Zahir and said a farewell message in Cleveland's voice.[22]. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Cafe Society Grrr August 16, 2011, 10:40pm #1 Seriously, the world of animation allows you a certain freedom you can't get with regular shows. The voice of Cleveland was developed originally for Family Guy by Henry after being influenced by one of his best friends who had a very distinct regional accent. In "Brian's Got a Brand New Bag", Cleveland's now-unoccupied house is destroyed when Peter watches the movie Road House and beats up Brian, which results in a car crashing into the house, and the empty bathtub crashes to the ground. !DVD: Season 9 - Disc 3. The network had incredible confidence in the spinoff though that they ordered season 2 before the first episode even aired. Joe tries to warn him, but Cleveland can't resist the temptation when Peter announces grape soda. Early Seasons Okay for The pilot episode of The Cleveland Show depicts Cleveland's farewell to the familiar characters and settings of Family Guy. [16][17] Soon after Family Guy was cancelled, Henry and his brother created the popular web series Kicked in the Nuts!, a spoof of hidden camera shows. pic.twitter.com/FmKasWITKT, Mike Henry (@mikehenrybro) June 26, 2020. 2023 Cable News Network. Cleveland Orenthal Brown Sr. is a fictional character from the animated television series Family Guy, and its spin-off series The Cleveland Show. We want to hear it. 1 1.'Family Guy': Why Did Cleveland Get His Own Spinoff? Three months after Family Guy star Mike Henry announced that he was stepping down as the voice of Cleveland Brown, a replacement has been named. Arif Zahirs casting helps to solidify his place on the show, and its exciting to think about what the actor does with this beloved character. As he and his family move back into his old house, he discovers it has been wrecked due to all of the past residents. The series ran for a total of 4 seasons and 88 episodes.[30]. He is known for his work on the animated sitcom Family Guy, where he was a writer and producer, as well as the voice of Cleveland Brown (until 2021), Herbert, Bruce, Consuela, The Greased-Up Deaf Guy, among others.Henry is also known for co-creating and starring in the spin-off The Cleveland Show . MacFarlane said hes often asked why Clevelandwas chosen for the spinoff and not Quagmire, the lecherous airline pilot. His established profession was that of a deli owner, before he switched over to being a postal worker after his return to Family Guy. He was conceived during the seventh-inning stretch of a Cleveland Indians game. [15] During the show's first four seasons, he was credited as a guest star, but beginning with season five's "Prick Up Your Ears", he has been credited as a main cast member. Currently in its 33rd season and being renewed through its 34th, The Simpsons is confirmed to be on the air until at least 2023, but if history is anything to go by, itll continue long after. Family Guy executive producer Seth MacFarlane answered questions about the show, its upcoming The Cleveland Show spin-off and the long-rumored movie at Promax/BDA annual conference in midtown Manhattan. He also said a crossover of "American Dad" and "Family Guy" might happen next season. From this point on, Cranston voiced Dr. Fist in eight episodes of the fourth and final season of The Cleveland Show. We made a mistake, took our privilege for granted, and were working hard to do better moving forward.. Therefore, I will be stepping down from the role., Its been an honor to play Cleveland on Family Guy for 20 years. Why did Cleveland get the spin-off? He was partially raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts where he attended Nativity Preparatory School and Keith Middle School before moving back to California in 2007. What theyre going to do with the character is their call. Donna and Robert ended up separating due to Roberts heavy drinking and drug abuse The Idol: How HBOs Next Euphoria Became Twisted Torture Porn, Slate said in a statement, At the start of the show, I reasoned with myself that it was permissible for me to play Missy because her mom is Jewish and White as am I. Usually, at the objects first impact on the house, Cleveland would say What the hell?!. All of this is a part of pop cultures recent racial reckoning, as increasingly creators and actors of color demand accountability from Hollywood and the entertainment industry. , after The Cleveland Shows cancellation, in the season-12 episode Hes Bla-ack! Henry has also voiced Consuela, a Latina maid, among other Family Guy characters. Cleveland sometimes will show some sexual deviance or arousal towards attractive women. All Rights reserved. The Cleveland Show is a Family Guy spinoff focused on the titular character but here's why it was cancelled in 2013 after four seasons. Jon Stewart got really upset but I wont go into that, he said. He also had lots of adventures with his Stoolbend friends, which included a bear named Tim (MacFarlane). He was once the proprietor of Cleveland's Deli, until Superstore USA shuts down nearly every store in Quahog in "Hell Comes to Quahog". They tried filming Megs scenes on different days than Clevelands, but theyd still have to see each other at dress rehearsal. A pair of long-running animated series made significant casting changes Friday to promote inclusivity: Voice actor Mike Henry announced he would leave the role of Cleveland Brown on Family Guy to allow a black actor to play the character, and The Simpsons promised that, going forward, white actors would not voice Family Guy Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. The character made his triumphant return during Season 12 episode Hes Bla-ack! However, Clevelands return gets off to a rocky start when Donna and Lois Griffins (Alex Borstein) argument jeopardizes his and Peters friendship. And if hes still creatively blocked? This is not a guy you want to invite into your hone on a weekly basis, he said. Cleveland returns to Quahog, but is forbidden from spending time with Peter when their wives get into an argument over parenting. A few years later, MacFarlane contacted him about being part of the show; he agreed and came on as both a writer and voice actor. He often falls out of a bathtub from the second floor of his home to the front porch, usually because of Peter. However, it took several pitches by MacFarlane to convince Fox to make the animated show. I love this character, but persons of color should play characters of color. Yet, that did little to increase the low ratings. Fans were confused why Cleveland was chosen over Glen Quagmire (MacFarlane) and Joe Swanson (Patrick Warburton). Since Zahirs casting, Mike Henry has shown support for the up-and-coming voice actor. And so his boss is the classic Effeminate Southern Gentleman; its a shortcut, its a clich, its right up there with giving Cleveland a wacky redneck neighbor who pitches rocks at skunks and dines on roadkill, its easy to work in non-Family-Guy-type stuff. Cleveland returns to Quahog. MacFarlane said he's often asked why Clevelandwas chosen for the spinoff and not Quagmire, the lecherous airline pilot. PHOTOS: From the Mind of You will receive a verification email shortly. In fact, she's gone on to have a successful voice acting and live-action career after appearing as the Meg voice actor on the show in season 1. New York, For a while following his divorce he dated a woman named Bernice, who had a higher voice than Loretta's, but seemed as equally bossy. ", which was part of a crossover storyline with Family Guy and The Cleveland Show. There he began taking classes at the Groundlings Theater and performing stand-up comedy. Zahir is of African-American and Cape Verdean descent and was born on April 15, 1994, in Berkeley, California. Cooper Hood is a news and feature writer for Screen Rant. [14] Despite the announced cancellation, in 2001 Fox decided to make the third season. Between the people in the pews and those watching online, about 1,000 heard of his . Fans can continue watching the adventures of Cleveland and the rest of the gang every Sunday on Fox. black Just wondering why they cut him out. Zahir, a longtime Family Guy fan, has been doing Cleveland Brown interpretations for years, and his talent for impersonating the slow-talking character would eventually gain him fans on social media. Since Cleveland returning to Quahog, Roberta Tubbs has said zero words. Shows like this add/delete characters for dramatic effect causing short-term view spikes. Henrys stepped down from the role and YouTube star Arif Zahir now voices the character. Family Guy has not slowed down since its return and became such a hit that Fox ordered the spinoff series,The Cleveland Show. (Ironically, I'm not a fan of The Cleveland Show) 1 Reply With Quote Grrr! in history and served as class president his sophomore-senior years. During a live broadcast of "Loveline", Seth MacFarlane announced that a Family Guy spin-off featuring Cleveland was currently in the works with the studio and writers. Another creation of MacFarlane and Cleveland Brown voice actor Mike Henry, The Cleveland Show debuted in 2009 on Fox. His name is in reference to the professional football team Cleveland Browns. [6] Henry has been married to his second wife Sara Voelker since 2007. The show was renewed for a third and fourth season on May 9, 2011. Furthering this connection, a commercial aired during Super Bowl XLV that showed many TV characters wearing NFL jerseys, with everyone in Quahog wearing New England Patriots jerseys except Cleveland, who is wearing a Cleveland Browns jersey in reference to his name. Fox 's Family Guy has recast the role of Cleveland Brown with YouTube star Arif Zahir. However, they still have feelings for each other in Love, Blactually. Which celebrity complained about being mocked on "Family Guy"? Henrys exit and The Simpsons decision followed a week where Big Mouths Jenny Slate and Central Parks Kristen Bell left voice roles on their respective animated shows where they both voiced biracial characters in order for a person of color to assume the role. It was the sex scandal. Coopers love for movies began by watching Toy Story and Lion King on repeat as a child, but it wasn't until The Avengers that he took an invested interest in movies and the filmmaking process, leading him to discover the world of film journalism. In "Something, Something, Something Dark Side", this gag is parodied when R2-D2 (played by Cleveland) slips off Luke's (Chris Griffin) X-Wing ship and falls into the swamp after they crash land on Dagobah. As Joe brags about his sexual exploits with Bonnie, Cleveland returns to Family Guy and takes some good-natured ribbing over The Cleveland Show. He is a Character Provacateur. Bell and the creative team behind the show recognize that the casting of the character of Molly is an opportunity to get representation right - to cast a Black or mixed race actress and give Molly a voice that resonates with all the nuance and experiences of the character as weve drawn her, they wrote in a statement. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Why did Cleveland have to leave Family Guy? [15] During the third season, Fox announced that the show was canceled for good. On the same day, Seth MacFarlane revealed that Cleveland would return to Family Guy during the 12th season in the episode Hes Bla-ack!. Following the cancellation of The Cleveland Show, Cleveland and his family moved back to Quahog. Why not do both? With Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Mila Kunis. Although the show would only run for four seasons and wouldnt earn rave reviews, Cleveland was promptly brought back to Family Guy. Its been an honor to play Cleveland on Family Guy for 20 years. show runner Rich Appel. Youre going to fucking thank me for that one, MacFarlane said. All we know there is I wont be doing the voice anymore, unless theres someway to transition it or something, Azaria said in January. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. [5] The series was mentioned in the final moments of the Family Guy season 7 episode "Baby Not on Board", with Cleveland telling Quagmire "Did I tell you I'm getting a spin-off". [25] The project was created and executive-produced by Henry, Seth MacFarlane and American Dad! In the earlier seasons of Family Guy, Cleveland frequently appeared alongside his wife Loretta Brown (voiced by Alex Borstein), until their divorce was portrayed in the Family Guy season 4 episode "The ClevelandLoretta Quagmire". Cleveland was an accomplished minor-league baseball player before moving to Quahog after a break-up with his girlfriend Maxine in "Death Lives". After four season, the show aired its final episode on May 19, 2013. Cranston is no stranger to voice work on the small screen. They both assume they are paired with each other because they are the funniest people in their town. During its second season, Fox publicly announced that the show had been cancelled. Luckily, the producers were able to find a fitting replacement in YouTuber Arif Zahir. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, "[21] To the fans he said, "I promise not to let you down. Cleveland responds, "Peter! Mike Henry, who had voiced Brown since the shows inception in 1999, announced in June that he was stepping down from the role. He held out hope that Cleveland might come back for a visit -- "crossovers are cool" -- but added that his place on "Family Guy" would be taken by another character. 'Family Guy': The Reason Lacey Chabert Left Cleveland remains a significant part of Family Guy, which is now in its 20th season. But Missy is also Black, and Black characters on an animated show should be played by Black people, she said. Loiss voice changed because, According to Long, she was replaced because. So it was somewhere between there. In "Blind Ambition", he also used to be an accomplished auctioneer, but was struck in the head by a totem pole, which resulted in his speech being permanently slowed. Their parents divorced when Henry was eight years old and the boys were primarily raised by their mother. But, it was only a simulation, so it never actually occurred. It was this popularity that helped earn the character his self-titled spinoff series, The Cleveland Show. [27] Due to strong ratings, Fox picked up two additional nine-episode seasons, bringing the total episode count of the show to 44. Thanks to strong DVD . Mike HenryArif Zahir [12] During the show's first four seasons, he was credited as a guest star, but beginning with season five's "Prick Up Your Ears" he has been credited as a main cast member. I love this character, but persons of color should play characters of color, he said. Itll be worth it. For more surprising facts about the show, check out the video at the top of this post. They usually do it to characters least favored by long-term viewers. The familys voices have all changed slightly over the years, some being obvious, such as Megs, others being not so obvious, such as Peters and Brians. Azaria also voices the characters of Homer Simpson friend Carl Carlson and police officer Lou, both of whom are black, while Harry Shearer has played Springfields Dr. Hibbert since the show began, Family Guy Actor Steps Down From Cleveland Role: Persons of Color Should Play Characters of Color, NBA Investigating, Team Suspends Ja Morant After Allegedly Flashing Gun on Social Media, See the Beths Deliver Refreshing Expert in a Dying Field Mini-Set on CBS Mornings, Alex Murdaugh Juror Says Cellphone Video, Big Liar Testimony Led to Guilty Verdict, Netflixs Sex/Life Is Back to Satisfy Your Softcore Desires, Tom Sizemore, Heat and Saving Private Ryan Actor, Dead at 61, See Travis Kelce and Kelsea Ballerini Joke About Their Matching Names in SNL Promo, Not Even Aubrey Plaza Can Save Operation Fortune, Guy Ritchies Weak Stab at Bond, Creed III Is a Muscular, Punishing Statement on Race in America, NBA 'Investigating,' Team Suspends Ja Morant After Allegedly Flashing Gun on Social Media, See the Beths Deliver Refreshing 'Expert in a Dying Field' Mini-Set on 'CBS Mornings', Alex Murdaugh Juror Says Cellphone Video, 'Big Liar' Testimony Led to Guilty Verdict. See Cleveland Brown Episode Appearances No decision yet in the long term. Much like Family Guy, fans were treated to humorous antics from Cleveland, his wife Roberta Tubbs (Sanaa Lathan), and his stepchildren Roberta Tubbs (Reagan Gomez-Preston), and Rallo Tubbs (Henry). Youll be pleasantly surprised that there are some people even more creatively blocked than you are, he said. Not that Im not enjoying the comedy but to give an ACTUAL answer: Because if he didnt there would be people on the internet bitching about how its uncontinuitous (new word!) In 2007, Family Guy creator MacFarlane began working on his next series for Fox called The Cleveland Show. In the Cleveland Show episode "Gone with the Wind", the same running gag affects his former wife Loretta Brown, and she breaks her neck on the ground, causing her death. This happened seven times in the series and three times in The Cleveland Show. The loss of which character would hurt the dynamic less? "[21][22] On September 25, 2020, it was announced that YouTube personality Arif Zahir, who is African-American, would replace Henry as Cleveland, but some episodes produced before Henry's departure from the role will still see Henry voicing the character. Henry married Linda Murray in 2002, they divorced in 2005 after three years of marriage. "He'll be the one who hangs out with the guys at the bar." That decision came months after Hank Azaria said he would no longer voice the popular Simpsons character Apu, which had been criticized as a racist, stereotypical and demeaning portrayal of South Asian people. However, as MacFarlane's star continued to shine, his availability forThe Cleveland Show diminished. This helped get him on Family Guys radar, and he won the part after the casting officials at Family Guy cast a wide net.. Your email address will not be published. He dies in Lois Kills Stewie when he is shot in the chest by Stewie Griffin. Retrieved on the 27.07.08, "Twitter / SethMacFarlane: RT @spartygirl8356:", "Behind the scenes of 'Family Guy' *** Character 'voice' star to speak (excerpt)", "Mike Henry: The Origins of Cleveland and Herbert", "Mike Henry of "Family Guy" talks voices, gags and instinct", "Stars out: Liv Tyler leaves '9-1-1: Lone Star', "Family Guy: Mike Henry Wishes "Cleveland Brown" Arif Zahir Best Wishes", "Something, Something, Something, Dark Side", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cleveland_Brown&oldid=1141271409, Fictional United States Postal Service workers, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles using Infobox character with multiple unlabeled fields, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2014, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 06:13. The same as with live actors: good second bananas dont always make good central characters. [6] Together they have a daughter, named Josie. So why was he chosen to get his show instead of another character? Primary Employment Cleveland remains a significant part of Family Guy, which is now in its 20th season. Sea. Likewise, Arif Zahir admitted to the trade that he wouldve been disappointed if Cleveland had been written out. Cleveland returns to Quahog permanently in "He's Bla-ack!". @Hallmark cards have really hit a new level ? Additionally, Cleveland appeared at the end of the American Dad! after a storm goes through the towns of Stoolbend, Quahog and Langley Falls and places the Brown, Griffin and Smith houses in the same neighborhood, where the three fathers of each family; Cleveland, Peter and Stan Smith face each other in a standoff. But then I remembered that nobody, producers or otherwise, would ever listen to Meg, or let her out of her cage. [7], At 24, after a brief career in advertising, Henry moved to California to pursue acting. Cleveland returns to Quahog, but is forbidden from spending time with Peter when their wives get into an argument over parenting. "We're going to pump Brian up a little more," MacFarlane said. [6] Henry graduated from Washington and Lee University (1988) where he earned his B.A. Arif Zahir has gone from impersonating Family Guys Cleveland Brown on YouTube to being cast as the new voice of the character on the actual show. Cleveland Orenthal Brown Sr. (born May 10, 1960) is a major character and member of the secondary cast of Family Guy, who serves as one of Peter Griffin's beer bar buddies, along with Glenn Quagmire and Joe Swanson. According to multiple sources, the four-member voice cast was able to secure between $175,000 and $225,000 each per episode for at least two more seasons and as many as five seasons of the series. In "A Very Special Family Guy Freakin' Christmas", Cleveland is also the president of the Quahog Chamber of Commerce. episode "Hurricane! The marriage ended when she had an affair with Glenn Quagmire, one of her husband's best friends in "The Cleveland-Loretta Quagmire". It was his second time appearing onThe Cleveland Show though, as he voicedGraham Kensington earlier that season. For the Fox midseason spin-off, MacFarlane confirmed Clevelands family will leave Quohog and return to his hometown in Virginia. Discovery Company. 88 episodes; Also co-creator, executive producer, and writer; Cleveland Brown as R2-D2, Herbert as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Bruce as, Cleveland Brown as R2-D2, Herbert as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Rallo Tubbs as, This page was last edited on 17 February 2023, at 06:57. Speaking to Henry, who was to continue doing other voices for the show, Zahir, who was a longtime fan of both the character and the show, said: "you created something truly special, and I promise I will do my absolute best to honor your legacy. Additionally, Cleveland has "no toenails anyhow" according to season 14 episode 19 "Run, Chris, Run" in which he and Jerome discuss a toenail fungus commercial. I eat more pizza than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Hell be the one who hangs out with the guys at the bar. He also said a crossover of American Dad and Family Guy might happen next season. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Mila Kunis earns $225,000 per episode. We took a look at the numbers, and it looks like shes raked in over $15 million for her work on Family Guy! MacFarlanehas been behind several successful movies and TV shows,although it isFamily Guy that is what he is still best known for. 12+ While there was a lot of hype around the series, it was met with mixed reactions from viewers and critics. Before Loretta, in "Death Lives", Cleveland meets Peter Griffin in the 70's. After briefly losing his job due to a wardrobe malfunction in "Unzipped Code" he finds employment with the Pawtucket Brewery. In the uncensored version of "Valentine's Day in Quahog", Cleveland awakes in the motel to find his kidney was taken after Meg's is returned to her. She works as the principals assistant at Stoolbend High School. Cleveland visits the guys on vacation and joins in Peter's quest to find God in "3 Acts of God". "It'll be worth it. He becomes a postal worker in "Take a Letter". On June 26, 2020, after twenty-one years of voicing the character, Henry announced on Twitter that he was stepping down from voicing Cleveland, stating "persons of color should play characters of color. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. (Ironically, Im not a fan of The Cleveland Show). Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. He chuckles that someone will get a black guy's kidney. He says he searches for canceled Fox sitcom Back To You.. Why did Cleveland have to leave Family Guy? Another answer is $$$. Arif Zahir has gone from impersonating Family Guys Cleveland Brown on YouTube to being cast as the new voice of the character on the actual show. Its good to see that Family Guy ultimately opted not to get rid of Cleveland. "[24] To the fans he said, "I promise not to let you down. "This is not a guy you want to invite into your hone on a weekly basis," he said. pic.twitter.com/7F6SEtUr10, Family Guy: The Reason Lacey Chabert Left.