United States

Canned Kermit Actor Turned Character Into ‘Bitter Victim,' Jim Henson's Daughter Says

Cheryl Henson went on to say that Whitmire's portrayal was no longer “funny or fun”

Jim Henson's daughter has joined the bitter battle over the firing of the Kermit the Frog puppeteer, saying the man who gave voice to the beloved amphibian turned the iconic children's character into "a bitter, angry, depressed victim."

In response to a blog post last week, in which ex-Kermit puppeteer Steve Whitmire said he had been “devastated” by his termination, Jim Henson’s daughter Cheryl Henson reportedly posted on Facebook saying his story was “ridiculously self serving [sic].”

“Steve’s performance of Kermit has strayed far away from my father’s good hearted [sic], compassionate leader of the Muppets,” Cheryl Henson, who is a Jim Henson Company board member, wrote. “Steve performed Kermit as a bitter, angry, depressed victim.”

Cheryl Henson went on to say that Whitmire's portrayal was no longer “funny or fun,” and that re-casting the character was long overdue. A screenshot of Henson's Facebook post was published by Deadline and NBC News could independently verify the writing.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us