“This f**king sucks”: Bleach Replacing Original Yoruichi VA With Afro-Latina Actor Anairis Quiñones Gets Slammed as Pointless Diversity Hire

Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War retained most of the original voice-acting cast members who were part of the franchise a decade ago. Among them was Anairis Quiñones, who voiced Mera Hiuchigashima and Hyori Sarugaki in the English dub. The 26-year-old was also handed the role of Yoruichi Shihoin although the decision evoked a few negative responses.

Quiñones took over the responsibilities of voicing Yoruichi from Wendee Lee. The change took effect on October 7, 2023, during the episode titled ‘Marching out the Zombies’ in the second sour of Bleach TYBW. It led to much controversy, given that VIZ Media didn’t provide an official update before the release of the episode.

Bleach‘s Decision To Cast Anairis Quiñones For Youruichi Shihoin Got Panned By Fans

Most anime fans don’t like change, especially when a certain someone who has been voicing a character for years is replaced. Wendee Lee has performed the English version of Yoruichi Shihoin since 2004. Moreover, she voiced Ichigo’s high-school friend, Tatsuki Arisawa, and the Arrancar named Menoly Mallia in Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War.

Also Read: Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War Steps Away From Tite Kubo’s Manga More Than Once, Top 5 Biggest Changes Series Made that Original Source Didn’t

Lee being replaced by Anairis Quiñones for the role of Yoruichi meant that her role in the upcoming cours would’ve been almost negligible. Tatsuki and Menoly are basically in the ‘lowest tier’ of the supporting characters list. Thus, Quiñones had big shoes to fill as the Soul Reaper named Shihoin.

Bleach fans didn’t take it kindly that an old cast member such as Wendee Lee was replaced. Some have even considered the decision to stem from diversity-related issues, given that Anairis Quiñones is a Latin-African.

Check out some of the negative tweets regarding the new English dub cast of Yoruichi Shihoin:

This fucking sucks. Stop changing our characters perfect voices just cause you found some colored voice actor to voice your black character. We had a great voice for the character already and she wanted to voice the character again.

— Let it hit you, steve (@Gekko_Amario) October 8, 2023

already bad enough Viz didn't bring back Vic Mignogna to voice Ikkaku🤦🏽‍♀️

now Wendee Lee (Yoruichi) was replaced with WOKE activist VA Anairis Quiñones because "representation"🤡

— packergirl (@p9cker_girl) October 8, 2023

So Anairis Quiñones(Yoruichi's VA) is a typical mixed-morenita Rican who consirers herself Black and is casted in Black roles.

We're really going to play this game where Black VAs are only one's who can play darkskin characters, but the person at play is mixed.

— Crzyboy190 (@crzyboy190) October 8, 2023

Dark skin (I don't know enough about bleach to know if she's actually technically black) character back to the original white VA is why I believe most people are in an uproar about this, and I agree, they shouldn't have done this in the middle of a season. (3/5)

— AnthonySub (@anthony_sub) October 22, 2023

At the same time, Yoruichi is Wendee Lee's most beloved role. It's just strange to have a new actress play her while Wendee plays a different character.

— Zack Friedman (@Xtitan92) October 22, 2023

Anairis Quiñones voiced Yoruichi for a single episode before being recast. Wendee Lee is back to playing the character while Quiñones will continue playing Hyori.

Also Read: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Gives Meaning to Yhwach’s Motives as a Villain After Being Defeated in the Past

Studiopolis Confirms That Wendee Lee Will Be Back To Playing The English Version Of Yoruichi

The casting ‘errors’ in Episode 22 of Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War have created a lot of controversy. Anairis Quiñones was unceremoniously told to step down from the role of Yoruichi Shihoin before VIZ re-cast Wendee Lee. Moreover, Lee seemingly made some unprofessional comments about the decision on the messaging platform X.

According to an update provided to Anime News Network, Studiopolis mentioned that a casting coordinator mistakenly offered Anairis Quiñones the role of Yoruichi. “Unfortunate circumstances that led to the casting error around the character “Yoruichi Shihoin” in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War episode #22.”

While Lee will reprise the voice-acting role of Yoruichi Shihoin, it’s a shame that Anairis Quiñones didn’t get enough opportunity to portray her talent to the viewers. In fact, it would’ve been better if VIZ approached Tite Kubo and made him illustrate scenes that depicted a young Yoruichi, which would’ve been voiced by Quiñones.

Also Read: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – Shutara Senjumaru’s Anime-Only Bankai May be the Strongest Ever in History