# Kermit speechless: Whitmire out as voice of Kermit the Frog **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 14, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273 "2017-07-14T19:05:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/1 "2017-07-14T19:05:29Z")
Steve Whitmire, the long-time Muppeteer who had voiced Kermit the Frog since Jim Henson’s death in 1990, has been released by the Disney Company, Whitmire announced in his blog Thursday. Whitmire is supposedly devastated and believes he let Henson down. Whitmire will be replaced by another Muppets performer, Matt Vogel, who performs the Count, among other characters. [https://www.google.com/amp/amp.usatoday.com/story/103685202/](https://www.google.com/amp/amp.usatoday.com/story/103685202/) I know there are some who believe Whitmire never was comparable to Henson, but he _was_ Kermit for many people who grew up with him. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/2 "2017-07-14T19:25:47Z")
What was worse was the brutal way that they told him: “Bye, ho!” ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/3 "2017-07-14T19:29:38Z")
Perhaps a money issue? Devoid of any specific reasons, we can only speculate, of course. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/4 "2017-07-14T19:31:24Z")
Yeah, fired by a phone call. They could have had the decency to call him into their offices and fire him in person. He had been associated with the Muppets for nearly 40 years. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/5 "2017-07-14T19:35:02Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Perhaps a money issue? Devoid of any specific reasons, we can only speculate, of course. Could have been. The last TV series was a flop and they could be laying the blame at his feet. Vogel could be making less money and be cheaper to keep on. It’s only speculation, though. ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/6 "2017-07-14T19:57:37Z")
Fired by phone? Friggin heartless. But that’s corporations. When they need something from you “WE’RE A FAMILY” but when you need some consideration or there’s money to be made, they will publicly crap on anyone/anything and proudly proclaim “WE’RE RUNNING A BUSINESS HERE”. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/7 "2017-07-14T20:26:34Z")
Yup. I worked for Musicland Corporate HQ back in the early 90’s. My manager asked us all to work 50 hours a week just to show our loyalty. He was rather unhappy that the first words out of my mouth were “25% more hours, 25% more pay”. “Where’s your loyalty to this company?” “Where’s this company’s loyalty to me?” \ “Good point.” ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/8 "2017-07-14T22:52:15Z")
The problem with corporate personhood is that corporations have no souls, and are therefore evil. ---
**Author:** ![Lips\_Obsession](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bbce88/32.png) [@Lips\_Obsession](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lips_Obsession)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/9 "2017-07-16T16:31:37Z")
I thought I heard many years ago that Jim Henson’s son performed as Kermit. Am I thinking of another muppet, or remembering wrong? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/10 "2017-07-16T18:37:15Z")
> [@Lips\_Obsession](#): > > I thought I heard many years ago that Jim Henson’s son performed as Kermit. Am I thinking of another muppet, or remembering wrong? [Brian Henson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Henson)? He designed and performed some Muppets and took over as chairman after his father’s death, but he never performed Kermit. He had personally selected Whitmire to take over as Kermit. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/11 "2017-07-16T20:16:08Z")
There was [something](http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-entertainment-news-updates-july-fired-kermit-steve-whitmire-1499976069-htmlstory.html)going on in private: > [@](#): > > … Whitmire said. “Through a new business representative, I have offered multiple remedies to their two stated issues, which had never been mentioned to me prior to that phone call.” > > Whitmire didn’t elaborate on what those issues were, but said he had stayed mum for nine months hoping Disney would change its mind… > > “I just want you all to know that I am sorry if I have disappointed any of you at any point throughout our journey,” Whitmore wrote, “and to let everyone know that I am devastated to have failed in my duty to my hero.” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/12 "2017-07-16T20:39:33Z")
Whitmire is a class act for not dragging the details into the media and trying to resolve the issues in private. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/13 "2017-07-16T21:06:54Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Whitmire is a class act for not dragging the details into the media and trying to resolve the issues in private. At least he didn’t go out like Elmo. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/14 "2017-07-16T22:14:01Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Whitmire is a class act for not dragging the details into the media and trying to resolve the issues in private. That’s a big assumption on your part. It may well be issues _embarrassing to him_. For example [and I’m totally making this up, this is just an example] he may have a substance abuse problem that makes him a nightmare on set. You just don’t know. It doesn’t sound like a money issue because that wouldn’t be kept private. Those who are slagging off Disney need to think that (a) it’s unlikely they have an issue with Whitmore’s voice performance, since there have been no complaints and (b) they have nothing to gain and everything to lose by this bad publicity. There’s something behind this, and to me it makes far more sense that _Whitemire_ has done something to cause the problem. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2017, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/15 "2017-07-16T22:46:35Z")
There’s also all this “so sorry I disappointed/failed my hero” stuff. How is getting fired over salary disappointing Henson? And you did the job almost 30 damn years - I doubt Henson expected a lifetime commitment. Definitely more going on than “Disney is evil”. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/16 "2017-07-17T11:02:49Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > That’s a big assumption on your part. It may well be issues _embarrassing to him_. > > For example [and I’m totally making this up, this is just an example] he may have a substance abuse problem that makes him a nightmare on set. You just don’t know. It doesn’t sound like a money issue because that wouldn’t be kept private. My first thought was sexual harassment, but that’s just wild speculation. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/17 "2017-07-17T11:23:54Z")
Two things. > [@cochrane](#): > > Steve Whitmire, the long-time Muppeteer who had voiced Kermit the Frog since Jim Henson’s death in 1990 Don’t say “voiced”, say “performed”. There’s so much more to it than just a voice; it’s inhabiting a character, and full facial and body expressions. > [@cochrane](#): > > He had personally selected Whitmire to take over as Kermit. Not Brian, but Jim himself selected Steve Whitmire. By coincidence he had officially told Steve so about a year before he died. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/18 "2017-07-17T12:07:35Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Not Brian, but Jim himself selected Steve Whitmire. By coincidence he had officially told Steve so about a year before he died. > [@](#): > > Whitmire was personally asked by Brian Henson to be Kermit’s performer a few weeks after Jim Henson’s death. Henson sent Whitmire a Kermit puppet to his residence, however, Whitmire hid the puppet away for weeks before deciding on taking on the role. > **[Steve Whitmire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Whitmire)** > > Steven Lawrence Whitmire (born September 24, 1959) is an American puppeteer, known primarily for his work on The Muppets and Sesame Street. Beginning his involvement with the Muppets in 1978, Whitmire inherited the roles of Ernie and Kermit the Frog after Jim Henson's death in 1990; he performed the characters until 2014 and 2016, respectively. As part of the Muppet cast, he has appeared in multiple feature films and television series, performing a variety of characters on The Muppet Show, Whi... ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/19 "2017-07-17T12:50:10Z")
Here’s [a better account](http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Steve_Whitmire#Continuing_Kermit_and_Others) than Wikipedia. Though it seems this clarified explanation isn’t what I originally read either, which must have been a misinterpretation. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273/20 "2017-07-17T13:11:41Z")
Here’s the original article that was referenced in Wikipedia, too. > **[On the Other Hand - Longreads](https://longreads.com/2015/09/10/on-the-other-hand/)** > > Twenty-five years after Jim Henson’s death, a glimpse of the man who kept his most iconic puppet singing: Steve Whitmire. A new Longreads Exclusive from Jon Irwin and Kill Screen magazine. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kermit-speechless-whitmire-out-as-voice-of-kermit-the-frog/791273.md?page=2)